Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid was the first of four generations of Reids to serve on the board of the Prudential. His son, Percy Thomas Reid was a director from 1885-1908 and his grandson, Colonel Percy Lester Reid was a director from 1926-1959. Desmond Arthur Reid, Thomas Reid’s great grandson, was a director from 1960-1980, Deputy Chairman from 1968-1972 and also a director of Prudential Corporation from 1978-1983.
Thomas Reid was born in 1812 and became a broker at Lloyds. His profession is listed in various sources as auditor and East India merchantman. Like a number of the other early directors he lived in Camberwell. He was one of Prudential’s early shareholders and was elected to the board in 1858 remaining a director for a period of 28 years. Along with James Gillman and Edgar Horne he formed part of the Special Committee of the board that would ‘negotiate with any company desirous of selling its business to the Prudential’.
The early years of the Prudential saw it acquire a number of other life assurance companies including the British Mutual Life Assurance Society (established 1844) in 1868 and the International Life Assurance Society (established 1838) and Hercules Insurance Company (established 1863) in 1869.
Thomas Reid retired from the board in April 1885 due to declining health and died in September 1886. His place on the board was taken by his son Percy Thomas Reid.
Colonel Percy Reid, Thomas Reid’s grandson, joined the Irish Guards and served with his regiment in the First World War. Between 1916 and 1917 he commanded the second battalion of the regiment in France, was four times mentioned in despatches and made an OBE. He retired from the army in 1919 and became a director of Prudential in 1926. In 1936 he became the first Prudential director to visit the company’s Indian operations, undertaking a 5,000 mile journey through Ceylon, Madras, Calcutta, Lucknow, Lahore, New Delhi and Bombay.
Colonel Reid remained on the board for a period of 33 years. During the Second World War he was zone commander of the Home Guard for Northamptonshire and was subsequently made a CBE. He also held the offices of High Sheriff of Northamptonshire and Master of the Merchant Taylor’s Company.
