William Bradford Reed (June 30, 1806–February 18, 1876) was an American attorney, politician, diplomat, academic, and journalist from Pennsylvania.

He was the published author of multiple books, including the biographies of his grandfather, General Joseph Reed, and grandmother, Esther de Berdt.

He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1825, went to Mexico as a private secretary for Joel R. Poinsett, and studied law.

Reed began his political career as an anti-Mason but switched to the Whig Party.

The treaty helped set the roots of what later became Washington's Open Door policy.

[1] He joined the Democratic Party in 1856 and was ostracized due to his pro-Confederacy views during the U.S. Civil War.