Joshua George Beard

Joshua George Beard
10th Mayor of Toronto
In office 1854–1854
Preceded by	John George Bowes
Succeeded by	George William Allan
Personal details
Born	1797 England
Died	November 9, 1866 Toronto, Canada West

Joshua George Beard (1797 – November 9, 1866) was an Upper Canadian businessman, politician, and mayor of Toronto in 1854. He was born in England and immigrated to York, Upper Canada. He opened various businesses in the York area and owned real estate throughout the province. He was also a municipal official and politician for York, and was elected to the Toronto city council and Toronto School Board of Trustees. In 1854 he was elected by his city council peers to be mayor of Toronto. Although he was ill in the first few months of his mayoralty, he recovered and resumed his duties, avoiding scandal that had affected the previous council. His poor health caused him to limit his political activity in 1864 and he resigned from all his political positions by 1865. He also retired from running his businesses, allowing his sons to assume responsibility.