Joshua George Beard

Joshua George Beard (1797 – November 9, 1866) was mayor of Toronto in 1854.
Beard was born in England, came to Toronto as a young man and started a coal business J.G. Beard and Sons before his political life. Beard was elected to the Toronto City Council for the St. Lawrence Ward from the city's inception in 1834 until 1854 when he was also elected mayor by his fellow aldermen. Beard also served on the Toronto School Board of Trustees from its founding in 1850 to 1864, serving as chairman in 1852 and was a strong supporter of free education to the public that would be supported by municipal taxes. He was also a member of the Orange Order in Canada.