Charles Taschereau Beard

Charles Taschereau Beard (1890 – November 21, 1948^[1]) was a naval officer and politician in British Columbia. He represented Esquimalt in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1945 to 1948 as a Liberal.

He was born in Ottawa, the son of Frank Beard,^[2] and, at the age of 17, served two years aboard the British Merchant Training ship Conway. He then served aboard several Canadian fisheries patrol vessels. In 1909, Beard joined the Royal Naval Reserve and, in 1910, the Royal Canadian Navy. He served as senior naval officer at Esquimalt and as Commanding Officer and as Commander of the Dockyard at Naden.^[1] In October 1915, he married Kathleen Kent.^[2] He served as commander of Maritime Forces Pacific in 1922.^[3] At the start of World War II, Beard came out of retirement to command HMCS Prince Robert, which captured the German merchant freighter Weser off the coast of Mexico. He later retired due to poor health. His son Midshipman Thomas Norman Kemp Beard was killed on HMS Hood during its encounter with the Bismarck in May 1941.^[1] Beard was a member of the Liberal-Conservative coalition in the provincial assembly.^[4] He died in office at Esquimalt and was buried with full military honours.^[1]

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