James Beard was born on May 20, 1812, in Buffalo, New York, the son of Capt. James and Harriet (Wolcott) Beard. He was descended on his father's side from Sir James Beard and on his mother's side from Sir Lochlan Maclean. He was the brother of William Holbrook Beard, who was likewise an artist. Capt. Beard moved his family to a farm near Painesville, Ohio, and died when James was eleven years old.
An itinerant portrait painter gave young James Beard his first thoughts of becoming an artist and when the traveler left the town James started painting portraits on his own account, charging five dollars for a head and fifteen for a portrait including the hand holding a book. At the age of seventeen he ran away from home and worked his way to Pittsburgh. He then worked on the Ohio River, acting as a shipping clerk on a river boat. He lived in Cincinnati about the year 1835. Shortly after that date he made a second visit to Pittsburgh. He now decided to try his fortunes in the South, visiting first Louisville, and then making his way down to New Orleans.
Beard finally returned to Cincinnati, where he lived for several years. There he made the acquaintance and won the friendship of many prominent men from both North and South who had him paint their portraits. Among the sitters to his brush were Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, Gen. Harrison, and Gen. Taylor. Harriet Martineau expressed her admiration for Beard in her book of travels in America. In 1846 James went to New York City, where he exhibited his picture entitled "North Carolina Emigrants, " for which he received $750. He was a charter member of the Century Club. In 1848 he was made an honorary member of the National Academy.
During the Civil War Beard served in the Union army on the staff of Gen. Lew Wallace, with the rank of captain. In 1870 he returned to New York and in 1872 was elected a National Academician. In 1887 he painted a portrait of Gen. Sherman. During his later years he relinquished portrait painting almost entirely and devoted his attention to painting animals. Whereas his brother, W. H. Beard, showed a fondness for the painting of wild animal life, he himself preferred to paint domestic animals. "The Streets of New York, " "The Window, " and "There's Many a Slip" are the titles of some of his compositions. James Beatd died April 4, 1893, at Flushing. His four sons, James Carter Beard, Harry Beard, Thomas Francis Beard, and Daniel Carter Beard all became well-known as artists.
James Beard's major artworks: portraits of Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, Gen. Harrison, and Gen. Taylor; Westward Ho (1850); Peep at growing danger (1871); The Widow (1872); Mutual Friend (1875); Parson's Pets (1875); Attorney and Clients (1876); Out All Night (1876); There's Many a Slip (1876); Consultation (1877); Don Quixote (1878); Sancho Panza (1878); It is very Queer, isn't it (1885), etc.
James Beard was a member of the National Academy of Design, a charter member of the Century Club, an honorary member of the National Academy.
James Beard married on August 28, 1833, Mary Caroline Carter, the daughter of Col. Thomas Carter.
