Sir William Reid (1791-1858) was a British soldier, administrator, and meteorologist, born at Kinglassie, Fifeshire. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, was commissioned lieutenant of engineers in 1809, and in 1810 joined Wellington's army at Lisbon. In 1815 he participated in Sir Edward Pakenham's unsuccessful attack on New Orleans and in 1835 commanded a brigade in the British Legion raised by the Queen Regent of Spain.