Charles Taschereau Beard

Charles Taschereau Beard
Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
In office
1945–1950
Preceded byElmer Victor Finland
Succeeded byFrank Mitchell
ConstituencyEsquimalt
Personal details
Born(1890-07-30)July 30, 1890
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
DiedNovember 21, 1950(1950-11-21) (aged 60)
Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Political partyBritish Columbia Liberal Party
SpouseKathleen Kemp
ChildrenPamela Beard (1917-1983), Thomas Norman Kemp Beard (1921-1941)
Occupationnaval officer

Charles Taschereau Beard (July 30, 1890 – November 21, 1950) was a naval officer and politician in British Columbia. After being defeated in the 1941 provincial election, he represented Esquimalt in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1945 to his death in 1950 as a member of the Liberal-Conservative coalition government.

He was born in Ottawa, the son of Frank Beard,[1] and, at the age of 17, served two years aboard the British Merchant Training ship Conway. He then served aboard several Canadian fisheries patrol vessels. In 1909, Beard joined the Royal Naval Reserve and, in 1910, the Royal Canadian Navy. He served as senior naval officer at Esquimalt and as Commanding Officer and as Commander of the Dockyard at Naden.[2] In October 1915, he married Kathleen Kemp.[1] He served as commander of Maritime Forces Pacific in 1922.[3] At the start of World War II, Beard came out of retirement to command HMCS Prince Robert, which captured the German merchant freighter Weser off the coast of Mexico. He later retired due to poor health. His son Midshipman Thomas Norman Kemp Beard was killed on HMS Hood during its encounter with the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941.[2] Beard was a member of the Liberal-Conservative coalition in the provincial assembly.[4] He died on November 21, 1950[5] and was buried with full military honours.[2]

  1. ^ a b "Society". Toronto World. 29 September 1915. p. 7. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Commander Charles T. Beard". CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Maritime Forces Pacific". Canadian Navy. Retrieved 25 November 2011.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Electoral History of British Columbia, 1871-1986" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  5. ^ Death