Jack Beasley

John Albert "Jack" Beasley (9 November 1895 – 2 September 1949) was an Australian politician.

Early life

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). 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.

Political career

In 1928 Beasley was elected for the safe Labor seat of West Sydney. When Labor under Jim Scullin won the 1929 federal election, he became an Honorary Minister (minister without portfolio), but he resigned this position in 1931 in protest at the Scullin government's policies in response to the Great Depression. He became the leading lieutenant of the radical Premier of New South Wales, Jack Lang, and when Lang decided to break with the federal ALP Beasley resigned from the ALP Caucus and became leader of the Lang 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.

Jack Beasley (footballer)

John Beasley (born 1916), generally known as Jack Beasley, was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward. He was born in Wednesbury.

Beasley began his professional career with Birmingham, but left to join Torquay United in 1935 without making the first team. He scored on his league debut on 18 January 1936, a 2–1 win at home to Watford, Torquay's other goal coming from Fred Beedall.

He played in the following two games, a 2–0 defeat away to Bristol City and a 3–1 defeat at home to Millwall in which Beasley scored Torquay's goal. Despite scoring he was replaced by Wally Hunt for the next game. He made one further appearance, on 14 April 1936 in a 3–0 defeat away to Bristol Rovers, before leaving for non-league Worcester City, for whom he scored 43 goals in league and cup. He later played for Halesowen Town.

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