John Reed (1887-1920) was an American journalist and socialist activist, best known for his first-hand account of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Born on October 22, 1887, in Portland, Oregon, Reed became involved in socialist and radical political activities during his time at Harvard University.

Reed's most famous work is "Ten Days That Shook the World," a book that provides a vivid and passionate eyewitness account of the October Revolution in Russia.

He spent time in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) and Moscow, closely observing the events surrounding the Bolshevik seizure of power. His writing style is known for its immediacy and passionate tone. He conveys the excitement and fervor of the revolutionary atmosphere.

Tragically, John Reed's life was cut short at the age of 32 due to typhus in Moscow on October 17, 1920. He is buried in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis in Moscow, and his legacy lives on through his writings and his contribution to the understanding of revolutionary movements in the early 20th century.