Alameda
County
Biographies
CHARLES
ALEXANDER BEARDSLEY
Charles
Alexander Beardsley, lawyer, was born in Townville, Pennsylvania, on January
14, 1882; son of Ezra S. and Mary (Fleming).
After attending the elementary and
high schools he entered Stanford University where he graduated in 1906 with the
A.B. degree; received the J.D. degree from the same University and was admitted
to the California bar in 1907.
Mr. Beardsley began law practice in
association with the firm of Fitzgerald & Abbott in 1908 at Oakland, California,
which changed to Fitzgerald, Abbott & Beardsley in 1913 when he became a
member of the firm. He served as Assistant City Attorney of Oakland,
California, from 1911 to 1915. From 1931 to 1940, he served as Lieutenant
Commander of the United States Naval Reserve, and as Commander in 1941; he was
port attorney and special counsel, 1939 to 1946; member of the California Code
Commission from 1932 to 1934.
Mr. Beardsley is recognized as an
authority on matters pertaining to the advancement of Bar Association to a
higher understanding of ethical practices. He has been guest speaker at many
State Bar Association meetings, advocating and fostering a better
interpretation of the laws by the legal profession; an authority on statutory
or legislative Bar Association (an all-inclusive
organization plan of self governing for Bar Association). The relationship of
lawyers to the court is another study that has fascinated Mr. Beardsley, and
the American Bar Journal has published many of his authoritative studies.
When the new State Bar of California
was organized in 1927, he was elected to the Board of Governors, serving from
1927 to 1930, and was president of same from 1929 to 1930. He served as vice
president of the American Bar Association, 1932 to 1934, and president, 1939 to
1940, member of the Board of Governors in 1941; honorary member of the State
Bar of Texas; holds a life membership in the American Law Institute; vice
president for tShe American Judicature Society;
member of the Alameda County Bar Association; and the American Society of
International Law (vice president, 1933-36).
He is a member of the Phi Delta Phi
(honorary), Order of the Coif, and Phi Beta Kappa Fraternities. Republican. Congregationalist; 33rd degree Mason,
Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, Shrine Elks Lodge of
Oakland (past exalted ruler); and the following clubs: Claremont Country,
Athenian-Nile (Oakland, California); Bohemian, and Commonwealth (San Francisco,
California).
In 1911, Mr. Beardsley married Agnes
L. Beardsley (deceased, 1945). Married (2nd) to Constance E. Mulvany (deceased).
Residence: Claremont Country Club, Oakland, California.
Offices: 1516 Central Bank Building, Oakland 12,
California.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Eminent Californians 1953”,
by Lee E. Johnson & C. W. Taylor. Page 229, C. W. Taylor
Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.
BACK TO GOLDEN NUGGET LIBRARY'S ALAMEDA DATABASES