[3] He attended public schools and in 1853, when he was 15 years old, his family moved to Sacramento, California and his father became a successful lawyer.

[4][5] Returning to Sacramento, Beatty read law at his father's office and in 1861 was admitted to the California bar.

[5][4][10][11] In 1888, both the Republican and Union Labor parties placed Beatty on the ticket for the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California.

[18] In November 1902, Beatty was re-elected as Chief Justice under the Republican ticket to another 12 year term, which would expire in 1915.

[19] Beatty held the position of Chief Justice for over 25 years until he died in office on August 4, 1914, and Matt I. Sullivan assumed the post.