William Bradford Reed | |
|---|---|
 Harper's Weekly sketch | |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |
| In office 1834–1835 | |
| Pennsylvania Attorney General | |
| In office April 2, 1838 – January 15, 1839 | |
| Governor | Joseph Ritner |
| Preceded by | James Todd |
| Succeeded by | Ovid F. Johnson |
| Member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 1st district | |
| In office 1841–1842 | |
| Preceded by | Jacob Gratz |
| Succeeded by | William A. Crabb |
| 2nd District Attorney of Philadelphia | |
| In office 1851–1856 | |
| Preceded by | Horn R. Kneass |
| Succeeded by | William B. Mann |
| Envoy to Qing Empire | |
| In office April 18, 1857 – November 11, 1858 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Parker |
| Succeeded by | John Elliott Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 30, 1806 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Died | February 18, 1876 (aged 69) New York City, New York |
| Spouses |
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| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania |
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.