Mr David Reeves was born in Slinfold, Sussex, England on 1 December 1875, being baptised on 13 February the following year.

He was the son of James Reeves (b. 1848), a farm labourer, and Caroline Elliott (b. 1852), both natives of Rudgwick, Sussex who had married in 1871. David was the only son out of four children born to his parents. His sisters were: Annie Edith (b. 1872), Ellen (b. 1879) and Rose Hannah (b. 1884).

The family appear on the 1881 census living at Weavers in Slinfold, later moving to Billingshurst, Sussex and appearing on the 1891 census living at Miners Wood in that village. David has already left school at this point and is described as a farmer's boy. He later became a joiner.

David was married in early 1901 to Emily Lipscombe (b. 1879 in Rudgwick, Sussex) and the freshly wed couple appear on the 1901 census living at 99 Seathwaite Road, Battersea, London. They would have no children and Emily Reeves died in 1905 aged 25; David was not remarried. He appears on the 1911 census living as a boarder at 3 Hartington Road, Brighton and he is described as a widowed carpenter and joiner. 

He joined the Titanic at Southampton as a second class passenger (ticket number CA 17248 which cost £10, 10s) and he was travelling to Cleveland, Ohio where he had a brother-in-law.

Reeves died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified. His estate, worth £68, 15s, 10d was administered to his father on 3 July 1912.