Pierson Barton Reading (November 26, 1816 – May 29, 1868) (also referred to as Pearson, and as Parson) was a California pioneer.

In 1844, Reading entered the service of General Sutter as a clerk, explorer, and chief of trappers.

In the Mexican–American War, Reading enlisted under Fremont and was appointed Paymaster of the California Battalion, with the rank of Major.

In the fall of 1849, Major Reading fitted out an expedition to discover the bay into which he supposed the Trinity and Klamath Rivers must empty.

Reading returned to his Rancho Buena Ventura in Shasta County in 1856, where he remained until his death in 1868.