Grenville Beardsley

Grenville Beardsley II (January 12, 1898 – June 3, 1960) was Attorney General of Illinois from 1959 to 1960.

Early life and education Beardsley was born in Salem, Iowa, the son of Frank Grenville Beardsley, Ph.D, a Congregationalist minister, evangelist, and author. He attended Knox College and Illinois Wesleyan University. He graduated from Knox College in 1917. After World War I, he completed his legal education at the John Marshall Law School.

Military service While in law school, Beardsley's studies were disrupted by service in World War I. He enlisted as a private in World War I and became an officer by the end of the war. On May 15, 1942, Mr. Beardsley was called to active duty as Captain in the United States Army. He served with General Joseph Stilwell for two years at his headquarters in New Delhi, India. During his service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. By the end of the war, he reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. At the time of his death, he was a Colonel in the United States Army Reserve.

Personal life In 1960 he had an aneurysm at his desk in the old State of Illinois Building on LaSalle Street, and died on June 3, a few days later. He was married to Leona Murray Beardsley and had a son, Frank Grenville Beardsley (III). He was a descendant of William Beardsley of Stratford, Connecticut. After his death, Governor William G. Stratton appointed William L. Guild, then a DuPage County Judge, effective June 17, 1960, to the vacancy created by Beardsley's death.