Engineer. Born in London, Beardmore was the first son of Joseph Beardmore, Superintendent of the Deptford Works of the General Steam Navigation Company. He became apprentice to his father about 1838 and later his father's assistant, during which time he invented a new furnace box that reduced the volume of smoke produced by river boats. He became known to the Napiers of Glasgow, who were noted marine engineers and Beardmore formed a partnership to take over their father's Parkhead Forge in the east-end of Glasgow in 1861. Here iron plate was manufactured to make boilers for marine steam engines.
Beardmore married at Duddingston (Edinburgh) in 1861, although his first son, who was to become the famed engineer and ship-builder Sir William Beardmore, was born some five years previously.
Beardmore died in Brighton.
