Thomas Mellard Reade was born on May 27, 1832, in Liverpool, England.

He was an English geologist, architect, and civil engineer. After early training with a firm of architects, he entered the Engineer's Office of the London and North-Western Railway and eventually became chief draughtsman of the northern division. In 1860, he began his private practice. He acted as architect of the Liverpool School Board from 1870 to 1902. In 1871, he was elected an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and in 1878, a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. It was not until he was about 35 years of age that he began to devote attention to his interest in geology. In 1870, he commenced the long series of geological articles which he published in various scientific societies and journals. In 1872, he was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society. He was elected President of the Liverpool Geological Society (1875-1877, 1884-1886, and 1895-1897). In 1896, he was awarded the Murchison Medal of the Geological Society of London.

In 1866, he married Emma Eliza Fox (1833–1895). He died on May 26, 1909, in Blundellsands, Liverpool, England.