People Australia

Harry Beard, 190?, by T. Humphrey & Co.

National Library of Australia, 23182829

Henry Elisha ‘Harry’ Beard (1866-1910) bricklayer, member of parliament 

Birth: 20 January 1866 in Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, son of Elisha Beard, bricklayer, and Sarah née Rivington. Marriage: 5 June 1899 in Christ Church, Geelong, Victoria, to Mary Lilian Humphrey. They had two sons and two daughters. Death: 18 December 1910 in a private hospital at Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria. Religion: Anglican. 

• In 1877 went with family to New Zealand, where educated at secondary level Christchurch; began medical course University of Christchurch, but withdrew due to lack of money. From 1884 a bricklayer in Auckland.
• Returned to Melbourne 1889; to Euroa, Victoria, 1896-98. After 1898 lectured on socialism in Melbourne.
• President, Victorian Operative Bricklayers’ Society. Trades Hall Council delegate. Founding member and Central Council member of the Political Labor League. President, Victorian Political Labour Council, 1910.
• Labor member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Jika Jika 1904-1907 (defeated). Contested Port Melbourne 1902, East Bourke 1902 and Jika Jika 1908.
• Following defeat worked as ganger with Victorian Railways; rose to rank of inspector.
• Member of the Australian House of Representatives as Labor member for Batman April-December 1910
• Died of cystitis and asthenia.

Sources
Geoff Brown, Biographical register of the Victorian Parliament, 1900-84 (Melbourne, 1985)