Richard J. Beamish

Richard Joseph Beamish (November 6, 1869 – October 1, 1945) was a Pennsylvania lawyer and journalist. He served a term as the state's Secretary of the Commonwealth, and served on the state's Public Utilities Commission.

Life and career Beamish was born the son of Francis Allen Beamish and Mary Loftus. Francis Beamish had served a term as mayor of Scranton, and was owner and editor of the Scranton Free Press. He was admitted to the bar and appointed Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County in 1890, at the age of 21.

During his years as a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Beamish covered the 1925 Scopes trial, serving as chairman of the press committee.

In 1937, Governor George H. Earle appointed Beamish as chief counsel to the state's Public Utilities Commission, the newly reconstituted and named former Public Service Commission, for a six-year term. During the war, he proposed banning college football.