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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Short description|American lawyer and journalist}}
{{infobox officeholder
{{infobox officeholder
|name = Richard Joseph Beamish
|name = Richard Joseph Beamish
⚫
|office = [[Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]]
|image = Richard Joseph Beamish, 1869-1945.jpg
|image = Richard Joseph Beamish, 1869-1945.jpg
|caption = {{circa|1931}}
|caption = {{circa|1931}}
⚫
|office = [[Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]]
|predecessor = [[James Andrew Walker|James Walker]]
|predecessor = [[James Andrew Walker|James Walker]]
|successor = [[John J. Owen]]
|successor = [[John J. Owen]]
|term_start = January 20, 1931
|party =
⚫
|term_end = October 17, 1934
|birth_date = {{birth date|1869|11|6}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1869|11|6}}
|birth_place = [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]], [[Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania|Lackawanna County]], [[Pennsylvania]]<ref name=pa-manual>{{cite book|title=The Pennsylvania Manual|volume=87|editor-first=W. A., Jr.|editor-last=Rothrock|publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania|year=1931|page=160}}</ref>
|birth_place = [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]], [[Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania|Lackawanna County]], Pennsylvania<ref name=pa-manual>{{cite book|title=The Pennsylvania Manual|volume=87|editor-first=W. A. Jr.|editor-last=Rothrock|publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania|year=1931|page=160}}</ref>
|death_date = {{death date and age|1945|10|1|1869|11|6}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|1945|10|1|1869|11|6}}
|death_place = [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]], [[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin County]], [[Pennsylvania]]<ref name=york-obit>{{cite news|title=Beamish, Ex-PUC Member, Dies|work=The Gazette and Daily|date=October 2, 1945|page=27|location=York, Pennsylvania|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/66353229/}}</ref>
|death_place = [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]], [[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin County]], Pennsylvania<ref name=york-obit>{{cite news|title=Beamish, Ex-PUC Member, Dies|work=The Gazette and Daily|date=October 2, 1945|page=27|location=York, Pennsylvania|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/66353229/}}</ref>
⚫
|spouse = Maude Weatherly<ref>{{cite news|title=Beamish Left $43,000 Estate|work=The Evening News|location=Harrisburg|date=October 27, 1945|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/59781134/}}</ref>
⚫
|party =
⚫
|spouse = Maud Weatherly<ref>{{cite news|title=Beamish Left $43,000 Estate|work=The Evening News|location=Harrisburg|date=October 27, 1945|page=3|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/59781134/}}</ref>
⚫
|children =
|birthname =
|religion =
|residence =
|residence =
|alma_mater =
|alma_mater =
|profession = [[lawyer|Attorney]], [[journalist]], [[author]]
|profession = Attorney, journalist, author
⚫
|religion =
|term_start = January 20, 1931
⚫
|term_end = October 17, 1934
⚫
|birthname =
}}
}}
'''Richard Joseph Beamish''' (November 6, 1869{{snd}}October 1, 1945) was a Pennsylvania lawyer and journalist. He served a term as the state's Secretary of the Commonwealth, and served on the state's Public Utilities Commission.
'''Richard Joseph Beamish''' (November 6, 1869{{snd}}October 1, 1945) was a Pennsylvania lawyer and journalist. He served a term as the state's Secretary of the Commonwealth, and served on the state's Public Utilities Commission.
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Beamish was born the son of [[Francis Allen Beamish|Francis Allen]] and Mary Loftus. Francis Beamish had served a term as mayor of Scranton, and was owner and editor of the ''Scranton Free Press''.<ref name=pa-manual/>
Beamish was born the son of [[Francis Allen Beamish|Francis Allen]] and Mary Loftus. Francis Beamish had served a term as mayor of Scranton, and was owner and editor of the ''Scranton Free Press''.<ref name=pa-manual/>


Beamish attended the National School of Elocution in Ontario and the newly founded [[University of Scranton|St. Thomas College]] in Scranton.<ref name=york-obit/> He was admitted to the bar and appointed Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County in 1890.<ref name=york-obit/> After three years, he became editor of the ''Scranton Free Press'', and later was editor and journalist for several Philadelphia newspapers. He also taught and coached football at St. Thomas College.<ref name=pa-manual/><ref name=football>{{cite news|title=Coaches Blast Beamish's Suggestion|work=Washington Post|date=October 1, 1942|page=12}}</ref>
Beamish attended the National School of Elocution in Ontario and the newly founded [[University of Scranton|St. Thomas College]] in Scranton, where he also served as the football coach beginning in 1893.<ref name=york-obit/><ref>{{Cite news|title=St. Thomas' College Pioneer Class Reunion is Held at Hotel Casey|date=June 9, 1933|newspaper=Scranton times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://digitalservices.scranton.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15111coll2/id/5902|title=St. Thomas College football team, 1893|date=1893|website=University of Scranton Digital Collections|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref> He was admitted to the bar and appointed Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County in 1890, at the age of 21.<ref name=york-obit/> After three years, he became editor of the ''Scranton Free Press'', and later was editor and journalist for several Philadelphia newspapers. He also taught and coached the debate team at St. Thomas College.<ref name=pa-manual/><ref name=football>{{cite news|title=Coaches Blast Beamish's Suggestion|work=Washington Post|date=October 1, 1942|page=12}}</ref><ref name=":0" />


In 1908, Beamish was involved in [[George Gray (senator)|George Gray]]'s campaign for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency, which Gray lost to [[William Jennings Bryan]]. He then switched to the Republican Party, though he would later realign himself with the Democrats.<ref name=":0" />
⚫
In 1926, he was appointed by Governor Pinchot to the state's Public Service Commission. During Pinchot's second term, Beamish was appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth. He resigned in 1934 and returned to newspaper work so as to support Democratic candidates.<ref name=nyt-quits>{{cite news|title=Beamish Quits Pinchot|work=New York Times|date=October 18, 1934|page=4}}</ref>


In 1917, he wrote the libretto for [[Camille Zeckwer]]'s cantata ''The Mischianza'', basing it on [[Silas Weir Mitchell (physician)|Silas Weir Mitchell]]'s novel Hugh Wynne.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mischianza, Op.34 (Zeckwer, Camille W.) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download |url=https://imslp.org/wiki/The_Mischianza,_Op.34_(Zeckwer,_Camille_W.) |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=imslp.org}}</ref>
⚫
In 1937, he was appointed chief counsel to the state's Public Utilities Commission, the newly reconstituted and named former Public Service Commission, for a six-year term. During the war, he proposed banning college football.<ref name=football/>

During his years as a reporter for the [[The Philadelphia Inquirer|Philadelphia ''Inquirer'']], Beamish covered the 1925 [[Scopes Trial]], serving as chairman of the press committee.<ref name=":0" />

⚫
In 1926, he was appointed by Governor [[Gifford Pinchot]] to the state's Public Service Commission. During Pinchot's second term, in 1930, Beamish was appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth. He resigned in 1934 and returned to newspaper work so as to support Democratic candidates.<ref name=nyt-quits>{{cite news|title=Beamish Quits Pinchot|work=New York Times|date=October 18, 1934|page=4}}</ref>

⚫
In 1937, Governor [[George Howard Earle III|George H. Earle]] appointed Beamish as chief counsel to the state's Public Utilities Commission, the newly reconstituted and named former Public Service Commission, for a six-year term. During the war, he proposed banning college football.<ref name=football/>

Beamish suffered from [[tuberculosis]] in his early life. He was pronounced cured after two years, and in later years organized the International Tuberculosis Exposition and Congress in Washington, D.C.<ref name=":0" />

Beamish died of a heart attack on October 1, 1945, at his home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=Cardiac Attack Results in Death of Richard J. Beamish|date=October 2, 1945|newspaper=Scranton times|pages=3, 10}}</ref>


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|title=The Story of Lindbergh, the Lone Eagle|year=1927|publisher=International Press|location=Philadelphia}}
* {{cite book|title=The Story of Lindbergh, the Lone Eagle|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.264682|year=1927|publisher=International Press|location=Philadelphia}}
* {{Cite book|title= History of the World War: America's part in the World War: a history of the full greatness of our country's achievements, the record of the mobilization and triumph of the military, naval, industrial and civilian resources of the United States|last=Beamish|first=Richard|last2=Marsh|first2=Francis|publisher=John C. Winston Company|year=1919 |location=Philadelphia, PA |oclc=38889327}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Beamish, Richard Joseph}}
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[[Category:1869 births]]
[[Category:1869 births]]
[[Category:1945 deaths]]
[[Category:1945 deaths]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania lawyers]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania lawyers]]
[[Category:People from Scranton, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Politicians from Scranton, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Journalists from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Journalists from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Secretaries of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Secretaries of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Scranton Royals football coaches]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Democrats]]

Latest revision as of 05:35, 22 April 2023

Richard Joseph Beamish
c. 1931
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
In office
January 20, 1931 – October 17, 1934
Preceded byJames Walker
Succeeded byJohn J. Owen
Personal details
Born(1869-11-06)November 6, 1869
Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania[1]
DiedOctober 1, 1945(1945-10-01) (aged 75)
Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania[2]
SpouseMaude Weatherly[3]
ProfessionAttorney, journalist, author

Richard Joseph Beamish (November 6, 1869 – October 1, 1945) was a Pennsylvania lawyer and journalist. He served a term as the state's Secretary of the Commonwealth, and served on the state's Public Utilities Commission.

Life and career[edit]

Beamish was born the son of Francis Allen and Mary Loftus. Francis Beamish had served a term as mayor of Scranton, and was owner and editor of the Scranton Free Press.[1]

Beamish attended the National School of Elocution in Ontario and the newly founded St. Thomas College in Scranton, where he also served as the football coach beginning in 1893.[2][4][5] He was admitted to the bar and appointed Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County in 1890, at the age of 21.[2] After three years, he became editor of the Scranton Free Press, and later was editor and journalist for several Philadelphia newspapers. He also taught and coached the debate team at St. Thomas College.[1][6][7]

In 1908, Beamish was involved in George Gray's campaign for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency, which Gray lost to William Jennings Bryan. He then switched to the Republican Party, though he would later realign himself with the Democrats.[7]

In 1917, he wrote the libretto for Camille Zeckwer's cantata The Mischianza, basing it on Silas Weir Mitchell's novel Hugh Wynne.[8]

During his years as a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Beamish covered the 1925 Scopes Trial, serving as chairman of the press committee.[7]

In 1926, he was appointed by Governor Gifford Pinchot to the state's Public Service Commission. During Pinchot's second term, in 1930, Beamish was appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth. He resigned in 1934 and returned to newspaper work so as to support Democratic candidates.[9]

In 1937, Governor George H. Earle appointed Beamish as chief counsel to the state's Public Utilities Commission, the newly reconstituted and named former Public Service Commission, for a six-year term. During the war, he proposed banning college football.[6]

Beamish suffered from tuberculosis in his early life. He was pronounced cured after two years, and in later years organized the International Tuberculosis Exposition and Congress in Washington, D.C.[7]

Beamish died of a heart attack on October 1, 1945, at his home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.[7]

Bibliography[edit]

  • The Story of Lindbergh, the Lone Eagle. Philadelphia: International Press. 1927.
  • Beamish, Richard; Marsh, Francis (1919). History of the World War: America's part in the World War: a history of the full greatness of our country's achievements, the record of the mobilization and triumph of the military, naval, industrial and civilian resources of the United States. Philadelphia, PA: John C. Winston Company. OCLC 38889327.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Rothrock, W. A. Jr., ed. (1931). The Pennsylvania Manual. Vol. 87. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. p. 160.
  2. ^ a b c "Beamish, Ex-PUC Member, Dies". The Gazette and Daily. York, Pennsylvania. October 2, 1945. p. 27.
  3. ^ "Beamish Left $43,000 Estate". The Evening News. Harrisburg. October 27, 1945. p. 3.
  4. ^ "St. Thomas' College Pioneer Class Reunion is Held at Hotel Casey". Scranton times. June 9, 1933.
  5. ^ "St. Thomas College football team, 1893". University of Scranton Digital Collections. 1893. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Coaches Blast Beamish's Suggestion". Washington Post. October 1, 1942. p. 12.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Cardiac Attack Results in Death of Richard J. Beamish". Scranton times. October 2, 1945. pp. 3, 10.
  8. ^ "The Mischianza, Op.34 (Zeckwer, Camille W.) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download". imslp.org. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  9. ^ "Beamish Quits Pinchot". New York Times. October 18, 1934. p. 4.
Political offices
Preceded by Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth
1931–1934 		Succeeded by
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