He was the son of Confederate Army officer, judge, and Republican Party politician Taylor Beattie.

He was also the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 1909 to 1913.

He served on the faculty at Tulane University Law School.

[1] On January 13, 1925, Beattie was nominated by President Calvin Coolidge to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana vacated by Judge Rufus Edward Foster.

Beattie served in that capacity until his death on August 23, 1925, in Thibodaux.