Background
He was born in Stonyford, Ireland in 1835 and came to Thorold in Upper Canada with his family the same year. He also worked with his father and brother in the timber trade.
He was born in Stonyford, Ireland in 1835 and came to Thorold in Upper Canada with his family the same year. He also worked with his father and brother in the timber trade.
He attended Victoria College in Cobourg, receiving an Bachelor of Laws in 1864.
He was elected to the university"s senate in the following year. The firm set up a town at Parry Sound and William also served as a lay Methodist minister for the community. In 1867, he was unsuccessful in a bid to represent Algoma in the Canadian House of Commons, losing by 9 votes.
He was elected to represent Welland provincially later that same year.
He was not reelected in the next general election in 1871. Later that year, the operation in Parry Sound was sold and Beatty settled there.
With Beatty"s support, a vote was taken to keep the township free of alcohol under the terms of the Dunkin Acting. Up until 1950, anyone who bought land in the town had to sign an agreement not to sell alcohol on their premises.
Over the years, Beatty operated a number of mills at Parry Sound.
He also retained a share in the shipping operation. He operated a hotel located on the waterfront and helped establish a railway line to Parry Sound, which was later taken over by John Rudolphus Booth"s Ottawa, Arnprior & Parry Sound Railway. He died at Parry Sound in 1898.