Robert Wilson Reford Sr.

Robert Wilson Reford (3 August 1831 – 15 March 1913) was a businessman and philanthropist born in County Antrim (Northern Ireland).

Born 1831 at Spring Farm, Moylinny, Co. Antrim, he was the son of Joseph Reford (1794-1834) and Grizel (Grace) Simonton Wilson.

His father had owned three linen mills and the largest bleach works in Ireland, which had been established a century before by Reford's great-grandfather, a prominent Quaker.

However, Joseph was duped by his local business rival, William Chaine (1778-1862) of Ballycraigy House, in a game of cards that was rigged for him to lose.

On leaving Ballycraigy that night, Reford's father had lost his entire business empire.