Pearson plc (LSE: PSON; NYSE: PSO) is a global publisher and the world's leading learning company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has market-leading businesses across education (Prentice Hall, Longman & FT Press), consumer (Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird) and business information (Financial Times). It is both the largest education company and the largest book publisher in the world.

Pearson has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It has a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Marjorie Scardino has been CEO since 1997.

The company was founded by Samuel Pearson in 1844 as a building and engineering concern operating under the name of S. Pearson & Son. In 1880, control passed to his grandson Weetman Pearson, an engineer, who in 1890 moved the business to London and turned it into one of the world's largest construction companies.

The company built the Blackwall Tunnel between 1892 and 1897.

In 1919, the firm acquired a 45% stake in the London branch of merchant bankers Lazard Brothers, an interest which would be increased to 80% in 1932 during the depression years. Pearson continued to hold a 50% stake until 1999.