Sir James Reid, 1st Baronet

Sir James Reid, 1st Baronet, GCVO, KCB, VD, JP (23 October 1849 – 28 June 1923) was Physician in ordinary to three British monarchs. He is the subject of a 1987 biography by Michaela Reid, which has been reprinted several times.

He was born in Ellon, Aberdeenshire on 23 October 1849 and educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and the University of Aberdeen. He qualified as a Doctor of Medicine in 1871 and then practised in Edinburgh. He moved to London to set up a practice, seeing patients for a decade before being appointed a resident physician to Queen Victoria.

In July 1897, the Royal household hated the Munshi, and tried to get rid of him – writing letters attacking him, sending an envoy called Frederick Ponsonby to investigate his Indian background and Reid revealing that Karim had 'gleet' (gonorrhea). Reid also disapproved of the Queen's closeness to her latest manservant; he bullied her. The household staff believed that the Munshi was reading secret red box telegrams. Reid believed the very idea of it was insane. Her doctor pointed out to the Queen that she should place more importance on the health of the heir to the throne rather than paying attention to her Indian manservant.

On 19 November 1900, Vicky, Princess Royal and Dowager Empress of Germany, visited her mother, the Queen, at Osborne House. The Queen was gravely ill, and she told the royal physician that she looked very ill at Windsor. The Prime Minister was increasingly vexed by the pressures being exerted by the Boer War on the Queen; her health was breaking, and she was feeling 'wretched' at night. On the night of 16 December, Reid administered her three grains of Trianol to help her sleep. On 18 December, Reid diagnosed "cerebral degeneration" (dementia). He was gloomy about her prospects of recovery, and Sir Francis Laking encouraged the impression that royal health was all well. But the Prince of Wales refused to sign off the Court Circular, undermining Reid's medical authority. Reid was the only person who remained at the Queen's side throughout her final illness. He asked if she wanted the Prince, but he tired of waiting and returned to London.

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