Author: John William Reed
Author: John William Reed (1843–1899)
Biography: John William Reed was born about 1843 in Manchester, the son of publisher William Reed. He attended Sir John Deane's Grammar School in Cheshire. During his youth, the family moved south to London where Reed worked as a clerk and insurance agent before settling into pianoforte manufacturering. In 1867, he married Mary Miller and the couple had three children. Based on his school experiences, he wrote the single work of fiction Tales of a Grammar School (1864). A long-time resident of Ealing he was a member of the local Natural Science Society. Towards the end of his life he suffered from mental disease and was under medical treatment. However, he left home and was found dead by suicide on 19 October 1899 on Leith Hill, a favorite spot.
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References: British Census (1861, 1871, 1881, 1891); Marjorie Cox, A History of Sir John Deane's Grammar School Northwich (1975); Middlesex County Times (28 October 1899)
Fiction Titles:
- Tales of a Grammar School. 1 vol. London: G. J. Stevenson, 1864.