William Henry Macleod Read (7 February 1819 – 10 May 1909) was an active participant in the commercial, political and social life of Singapore and the Malay states between 1841 and 1887.
Cumming-Read was the daughter of banker John Cumming of Forres, Scotland and there is a stone marker in her memory as his "beloved and lamented wife" at St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore.
William Read was appointed Special Constable to deal with ethnic riots between the Colony's Hokkien and Cantonese communities in 1854.
Also in 1854, William Read was the first volunteer of the Singapore Rifle Corps, a militia unit in which he remained active for 25 years.
THE Queen has been graciously pleased to give directions for the following appointment to the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George : To be an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, of Companions of the said Most Distinguished Order :— William Henry Macleod Read, Esq., for long and valuable services rendered in the Straits Settlements.
The charter of the British North Borneo Company,[4] lists merchant William Henry Macleod Read, of 25 Durham Terrace, in the Country of Middlesex, as one of its petitioners.
His interest in educational and cultural life are evidenced by his involvement with the National Library (first treasurer), trusteeship of Singapore (later Raffles) Institution, and founding of the first Sailor's Home (appointed Honorary Secretary).
Read was also active as a Freemason, being the second person to be initiated to the Masonic Lodge Zetland in the East and soon becoming its Worshipful Master.
In January 1845, at a public meeting, Read put forward a motion proposing that municipal assessment funds (see Act XIII of 1839 allowing for an assessment fund to be used for municipal purposes) be controlled by one person appointed by government and two persons appointed by ratepayers.
However a new bill was passed (Act IX of 1848 that provided for two officials and three non-officials, all nominated by the Governor to administer the funds.
THE Queen has been pleased to appoint George Macfarlane Sandilands, Esq., and William Henry Macleod Read, Esq., to be Members of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements.
Read was eventually succeeded in his role as District Grand Master by Major Samuel Dunlop in 1885.