The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Beaney, Hon. James George
Beaney, Hon. James George, M.L.C., M.D., F.R.C.S.E., L.K.Q.C.P.I., M.R.I.A., was born at Canterbury, in Kent, where he was educated, and studied surgery with Mr. W. J. Cooper. He was afterwards a student at Edinburgh University, at Paris, and at Guy's Hospital. He commenced his medical career as regimental surgeon in the Mediterranean, and with the Turkish contingent in the Crimean war. After the campaign he made several trips to America, and ultimately went to Melbourne, where in 1858 he became assistant to Dr. John Maund, at whose death he succeeded to his practice. In 1860 he was appointed surgeon to the Melbourne Hospital, surgeon to the Royal Victorian Artillery, and was elected a member of the Royal Society of Victoria. He was again elected surgeon to the hospital and banquetted at the town hall in 1875, and was subsequently re-elected despite the strenuous opposition of a large section of the medical profession. In 1878 Dr. Beaney visited England with a semi-official commission from the Berry Government to report on medical matters. In 1883, after a severe contest, he was elected to the Legislative Council for the North Yarra Province, and was re-elected for a period of six years, in 1885, when he defeated the Hon. James Munro, the late Premier of Victoria. Dr. Beaney was the author of several medical works, including "Contributions to Conservative Surgery." He was munificent in his donations to public institutions in his native place, and offered various medical prizes. He died in Melbourne on June 30th, 1891, bequeathing by his will £10,000 to his native place.