Peter Reid (Royal Navy officer)

Reid was born in London on 10 January 1903, the son of Sir James Reid, 1st Baronet (1849–1923), a distinguished doctor who served at the royal court, by his wife Honourable Susan Baring (1870–1961), daughter of the banker Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke. His father had been created a Baronet in 1897, and his elder brother Edward (1901–1972) succeeded their father to this baronetcy. Through his mother he was related to several prominent families, his maternal aunts married respectively the 5th Earl of Kenmare and the 6th Earl Spencer.[1]

He joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1916.[2] He served in World War II in operations off Norway and then off Algeria before taking part in the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941.[2] He was Chief Signal Officer to Field Marshal Lord Wavell during defence of the East Indies in 1941 and then served on the staff of Sir James Somerville, Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet, in 1942 before becoming deputy director of the Signals Division in 1943.[2]

After the War he commanded HMS Dido and then HMS Cleopatra.[2] He was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in 1951 and Second in Command of the Mediterranean Fleet in 1954.[2] His last appointment was as Controller of the Navy in 1956 before he retired in 1961.[2]

He lived in Bolton in East Lothian[3] and in retirement was a Member of the Livingston New Town Corporation.[4]

In 1933 he married Jean Dundas; they had one son and one daughter.[1]