Thomas Reid went to school at the High School of Glasgow. He was something of a scholar as at age 10 in Fourth Class he won second prize for mathematics and a prize for Latin.
He lived at Hillock House, Govan at time of his marriage.
In 1880 he bought Kilmardinny House and estate at Bearsden, northwest of Glasgow.
In the 1881 census, he describes his occupation as a 'Yarn Dyer & E. I. Merchant & J. P. Employing 247 Males & 98 Females'. He had 7 servants living at Kilmardinny House as follows:
Mary Aitken, the Governess, aged 24 from Garelochhead, Dumartonshire.
Agnes McLean, the Cook, aged 37 from Appin, Argyleshire
Georgina McPherson, a Nurse, aged 34 from Aforthy, Aberdeenshire
Georgina Grant, a Housemaid, aged 36 from Fort Augustus, Invernessshire
Margaret Grant, a Housemaid, aged 28 from Elgin, Morayshire
Emma McKern, a Dairymaid, aged 23 from Ireland
Ann Duffy, a Laundrymaid, aged 21 from Ireland
In the 1891 census he described his occupation as a 'Dyer and East India Merchant'. In ten years all the servants had changed:
Anne Scrimgeour, Cook, 40
Isabella Harper, Sewing maid, 37
Mary Brown, Laundress, 37
Christina Duncan, Housemaid, 29
Elizabeth Young, Dairy Maid, 23
Elsie Adie, Housemaid, 25
Elizabeth Adam, Kitchenmaid, 20
He was chairman of the British Linen Bank, a director of the dyers, United Turkey Red and a colleague of Alfred Nobel.
From 1893 to 1900 he was chairman of Nobel's Explosives.
When he died in 1900 the Kilmardinny estate, which extended to 117 acres and included a lake of 8 acres, was sold for £25000.
The probate came to £186,180.
Below is the Obituary from the Glasgow Herald 6th July 1900
DEATH OF MR THOMAS REID OF KILMARDINNY
We regret to announce the death of Mr Thomas Reid of Alex Reid & Sons, turkey red and fancy dyers, which took place yesterday at his residence, Kilmardinny. Mr Reid, who was in his 70th year, has been long known as one of our most enterprising and successful citizens. While resident at Ibrox House, now about 20 years ago, he took an active interest in the affairs of the burgh of Govan, and for some time he filled the position of chief magistrate. He was a shrewd, able, and energetic man of business, and was largely interested in a number of the principal commercial and industrial undertakings connected with the city. He was chairman of Nobel's Dynamite Trust Company, Nobel's Explosives Company, the London and Glasgow Engineering Company, and the Glasgow Cotton Spinning Company, and he was also a director of the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company, the Birmingham Metal and Munitions Company, and the Steel Company of Scotland. He was a Justice of the Peace for the county of the city of Glasgow and for the county of Dumbarton.
Craigton cemetery description:
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=33048&p=0 
