Paul Martin Pearson (October 22, 1871 – March 26, 1938) was a college professor, author, editor of journals, the first civilian Governor of the United States Virgin Islands and Quaker.

[citation needed] During World War I, he was responsible for the YMCA education programs in United States Army cantonments.

[citation needed] In 1931, Pearson was appointed by President Herbert Hoover to be the first civilian Governor of the United States Virgin Islands.

[3] His new government, inaugurated March 18, 1931, was given $763,000 ($8.5 million in inflation-adjusted 2005 dollars) to try and shore up the islands' finances which were badly hurt by Prohibition.

Pearson was also criticized for cronyism, including creating positions in his government (such as "Director of Adult Entertainment") which were given to friends from Pennsylvania.

In February 1934, Pearson declared personal bankruptcy, in large part due to debts incurred while working with his Chautauqua organization in Pennsylvania.

In November 1934, a scandal erupted as Pearson's executive assistant, Paul C. Yates was fired by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes for "disloyalty" and "insubordination" and ordered him to return to Washington, D.C., for an investigation.

On February 28, 1938, he suffered a stroke while on a business trip to California to urge passage of a law to permit public housing in that State.