Frederick Henry Reed was born at The Grove, Blackheath, Greenwich, Kent [now London], England in 1849. He was articled to Thomas Hayter Lewis (1812-1898) in London in 1866 and remained with him for a period as his assistant. He also attended the Royal Academy Schools in London and University College, London. In 1872 he was awarded the RIBA Silver Medal for Drawing.
Reed commenced independent practice as an architect in 1875 and possibly from this date was in partnership with John Tavenor Perry (1842-1915) in London as Perry & Reed.
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1876 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1896. He died in London in 1922
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001