born near chestertown, maryland, in 1760, reed completed preparatory studies and served with the continental army during the american revolutionary war, attaining the rank of captain of infantry. he participated in the battle of stony point in 1779, and later attested to having cut off the head of an american deserter so that it could be displayed to the troops as a deterrent. reed was seriously wounded at the battle of camden in 1780. he was a member of the maryland house of delegates in 1787, sheriff of kent county, maryland from 1791 to 1794, and also member of the executive council of maryland from 1805 to 1806.