Person Reid; Sir; William (1791 - 1858); military engineer, colonial governor, and meteorologist Reid William Sir military engineer, colonial governor, and meteorologist 1791 - 1858 British Male Kinglassie, Fife, Scotland, Europe 25 April 1791 17910425 His residence at 117 [now 93] Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park, London 31 October 1858 18581031 Marriage: Clapham, Surrey (5 November 1818)

Soldier; Colonial Governor Meteorology Education: Private school in Musselburgh and the Edinburgh Academy; Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (1806) Career: Gazetted second lieutenant (1809); promoted to first lieutenant (1810); served in the British army in the Peninsular War (1810-1814) promoted to second captain (1814); served in the latter stages of the Anglo-American War (1814-1815); returned to Woolwich to become adjutant of of the Royal Sappers and Miners and in the same year accompanied the expedition against Algiers under Lord Exmouth; in the West Indies (1832-4); served with the Ordnance Survey in Ireland (1824-1827); promoted regimental first captain (1829); participated in the Carlist War (1835-6); promoted to lieutenant-colonel (1837); stationed in Portsmouth (1837-1839); became Governor of the Bermudas (1839–1846), of the British Windward Islands (1846–1848), and of Malta (1851–1858); chaired the executive committee of the Great Exhibition (1850-1851); returned to England (1858). Memberships: Institution of Civil Engineers Honours: CB (1838); KCB (1851) Parents: James Reid, Presbyterian minister of the Church of Scotland at Kinglassie, Fife, and Alexandrina, daughter of Thomas Fyers, chief engineer in Scotland. Spouse: Sarah née Bolland, youngest daughter of John Bolland, hop merchant and Member of Parliament for Bletchley, Surrey. Children: Grace Reid; Charlotte Cuyler Reid; Sophia Reid Remembered for his contribution to the intense debate on storms which dominated meteorology in the first half of the nineteenth century. In 1832–4, Reid experienced the destructive power of storms in the West Indies, particularly hurricanes. This sparked his interest in the ongoing scientific controversy surrounding storms, notably in the United States. William Redfield, a key figure in the debate, corresponded with Reid, who collected and sent data supporting Redfield's gravity and fluid tendencies theory. Reid presented Redfield's ideas at the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1838, earning acclaim. He published "Attempt to Develop the Law of Storms by Means of Facts" in the same year, rejecting theoretical positions. Reid's practical advice for ships caught in storms led to its distribution, impacting British warships and merchant mariners. In 1849, he published "Progress of the Development of the Law of Storms". He is also remembered as a successful governor, genuinely concerned with the well-being of those he was sent to govern, affectionately termed the "good" governor by Bermudian historians. He advanced agriculture by introducing new crops and tillage methods, and even turning the grounds of Government House into an experimental garden, making the island a profitable supplier of early potatoes and other market crops for the United States, aided by Redfield, who provided him with seeds and equipment. He stablished the Annual Agricultural Exhibition, advocated for widespread education; founded the library; erected the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse; and championed charitable endeavours; earning praise as an indefatigable, excellent, and beloved leader. Royal Society roles: VP 1849-1850 Fellow 21/02/1839 48 Sir John Herschel; C W Pasley; Edward Sabine; C Wheatstone; Rod I Murchison; W Whewell; F Beaufort; Francis Baily; Jas C Ross; Tho Murdoch; John Richardson; Thomas Locke Lewis; J F Royle; Mich Bland Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; 'Governor Reid and the Law of Storms' [https://www.thebermudian.com/heritage/heritage-heritage/governor-reid-and-the-law-of-storms/; last accessed 29/11/2023] Obituaries: Proc Roy Soc 1857-1859 vol 9 pp 543-546 References: Olwyn Mary Blouet, 'Sir William Reid, FRS, 1791-1858: Governor of Bermuda, Barbados and Malta' in NR 1985-86 vol 40 pp 169-191 International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 RCN R60542 RCN R60540 25 Apr 1791 - 31 Oct 1858 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 29/11/2023 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA3724 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 17/03/2026 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/50119638 515ae281-d578-4061-9552-c5be66abebb2