Thomas Reid was born in 1710, in the parish of Linton, near Berwick-upon-Tweed, on Tweedside. He was probably the oldest of five sons of Robert Reid, farmer and tanner. His father died when he was about sixteen years old, so Reid had to support the family on his own. He was an excellent scholar, particularly of Greek and Hebrew
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When he was about twenty-three years old he became assistant minister at Linton church. After some years he moved to Alnwick, where he did some writing for the press. At the age of thirty-five he became minister of Eccles church, Berwick; and three years later (1752) succeeded Dr.
Currie at St. Mary's church, Newcastle. He married Elizabeth Peacock (daughter of William Peacock), with whom he had six children; but she died in 1763.
In 1773 Reid became minister of St. Nicholas Kirk, Newcastle; and in 1776 resigned that charge in order to become professor of divinity at Edinburgh University, where he died on November 2, 1787.