Inst.C.E., of Manchester but spent several years in Birmingham, where he was engaged as resident engineer for the corporation working on the construction of cable tramways.Before arriving in Penang, Peirce was employed as assistant to Pritchard & Co., civil engineers, of London and Birmingham

In Penang, Peirce was responsible for the design of the Queen Victoria clock after winning a design competition; Jalan Peirce is named after him.