William Gilbert Beattie was born in Sparta, Illinois, on April 27, 1874. His family moved to Kansas in 1885. After three years of crop failure they moved to Oregon City, Oregon. As a teenager he taught school. In 1901 he graduated from the University of Oregon.

He moved to Alaska to work as teacher and principal in Wrangell in 1901-1902 and moved back to Oregon to teach for the 1903-1904 school year. In 1905-1911 he was a teacher and superintendent of the Sitka Training School (Sheldon Jackson). While he was in Sitka he built many buildings on campus, including one on solid rock when the Board of Missions in New York wanted it built in what was a swampy area. He was fired for insubordination.

Mr. Beattie was Superintendent of Native Schools in SE Alaska from 1911-1916. He spent about 3 weeks per month on a boat visiting schools in many Southeastern Alaska villages

He was sent to Metlakatla, Alaska, from 1917-1919 to oversee a government school. There he met Father Duncan and Edward Marsden.

In 1920-1926 Beattie was employed as Professor of Education at the Western Oregon Normal School. He worked in the Extension Division at the University of Oregon from 1926-1947. At some point during his career he was superintendent in College Grove, Oregon.

While in Metlakatla he clashed with Father Duncan who closed the store, cannery, and water supply in a dispute with the Natives. William Beattie cut the chain and lock on the water supply forcing it open. In 1927 he was investigated by Congress for ruining Utopia in Metlakatla. His word was accepted by Congress. In 1937 he was again investigated by Congress and accused of ruining a Utopia.

In 1954 Beattie wrote Marsden of Alaska: A Modern Indian (New York, 1955). He died in April of 1966.

Biographical information provided by the donor.