William Bradford Reed

William Bradford Reed (June 30, 1806–February 18, 1876) was an American attorney, politician, diplomat, academic, and journalist from Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1834 to 1835. He was elected Pennsylvania State Attorney General in 1838 and served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 1st district in 1841. He served as U.S. Minister to China in 1857. His pro-Confederacy views put him in conflict with other Pennsylvania politicians. He was the published author of multiple books, including the biographies of his grandfather, General Joseph Reed, and grandmother, Esther de Berdt. Early life and education Reed was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Joseph Reed and Maria Ellis Watmough. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1825, went to Mexico as a private secretary for Joel R. Poinsett, and studied law. His brother was educator Henry Hope Reed. Career Reed began his political career as an anti-Mason but switched to the Whig Party. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and served from 1834 to 1835. He was elected Pennsylvania Attorney General in 1838. He served as vice president of the Law Academy of Philadelphia from 1840 to 1841. He was elected a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 1st district in 1841. He worked as a professor of American history at the University of Pennsylvania in 1850.