Background
Beasley was born in Werribee, Victoria, but moved to Sydney with his family as a child.
Beasley was born in Werribee, Victoria, but moved to Sydney with his family as a child.
He had a primary education in Catholic schools then became an apprentice electrician. He worked as an electrician for the Sydney City Council, and became President of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU). From 1922 to 1928 he was President of the Trades and Labour Council of New South Wales (now Unions NSW).
In 1928 Beasley was elected for the safe Labor seat of West Sydney.
He became the leading lieutenant of the radical Premier of New South Wales, Jack Language, and when Language decided to break with the federal ALP Beasley resigned from the ALP Caucus and became leader of the Language Labor party in federal Parliament. In December 1931 he led his group across the floor of the House and brought down the Scullin Government on a vote of confidence.
This earned him the nickname "Stabber Jack" for the rest of his life. In 1935 Scullin retired and in early 1936 the new federal leader, John Curtin, brought about a reunification of the NSW and Federal parties, and Beasley joined the Opposition front bench.
But in 1940 Language again broke off relations with the federal party, although by this time he was no longer Premier and no longer had the support of the NSW Branch as a whole.
Nevertheless, Beasley again supported Language and became leader of the so-called Non-Communist Labor Party in federal Parliament. In 1941 Curtin again brought Language"s followers (although not Language himself) back into the Labor Party. When Curtin became Prime Minister in October 1941, he made Beasley Minister for Supply and Development (later Minister for Supply and Shipping), a vital portfolio in wartime.
Beasley proved to be a highly competent minister and played a leading role in co-ordinating Australia"s wartime economy and supporting the Allied forces in the Pacific Theatre.
Due to ill health he exchanged positions with William Ashley in February 1945 to take the undemanding Vice-President of the Executive Council. He had not forgiven Beasley and did not want him in the Cabinet, so in 1946 Beasley was appointed High Commissioner in London.
He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1946. and was a leading guest at the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He served as High Commissioner until his sudden death in September 1949 on a visit to Sydney at Street Vincent"s Hospital, Darlinghurst.
From 1932 to 1936 Beasley led the Language group in opposition to both the United Australia Party government of Joseph Lyons and Federal Labor.
At this time he was under the influence of Jock Garden and was briefly a member of the Communist Party of Australia, but he soon left and became an influential member of the Australian Labor Party.