John Christian Reid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Christian Reid | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Newcastle | |
| In office 8 February 1909 – 2 February 1911 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Cook |
| Succeeded by | Henry Sheddon |
| In office 4 February 1914 – 8 February 1915 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Sheddon |
| Succeeded by | Robert George Kilgour |
| Alderman on the Newcastle Borough Council | |
| In office 7 February 1902 – 4 July 1917 | |
| Constituency | Belmore Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1873 |
| Died | 20 March 1932 (aged 58) Belmont, New South Wales, Australia |
John Christian Reid, JP (1873 – 20 March 1932) was a New South Wales businessman, yachtsman and alderman, who served several terms as Mayor of Newcastle.
Reid was born in 1873[1] in the town of Newcastle, Colony of New South Wales, the grandson of John Reid, a Presbyterian minister, who had emigrated from Renfrewshire, Scotland with his family in 1852.[2] His family was one of many Presbyterian families brought out from Scotland by Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang, with whom his grandfather worked at Scots Church, Sydney.[3] Reid's uncle – his father's younger brother – was Sir George Reid, the future Premier of New South Wales and Prime Minister of Australia.[4]
After being educated at Miss Logan's Preparatory School and Newcastle Superior Public School, Reid joined his father's shipping and insurance firm, John Reid Limited, which he had established in 1862. In 1895, however, he left to become the manager of J. Fenwick & Co., a tugboat business operating in Newcastle harbour, where he was employed until 1909. Reid left to become managing director of the family firm, a position he retained until his death.[4] The Reids eventually rose to be prominent members of Newcastle society. Reid, along with his brother Mark, eventually ran three companies in shipping, travel and wool stores, as well as becoming prominent members in Newcastle yachting.[5]