History of Beau Biden in Timeline

Beau Biden, son of President Joe Biden, was a prominent American figure. He served as Delaware's Attorney General from 2007 to 2015. Prior to his political career, Biden served as a major in the Delaware Army National Guard, including a deployment to Iraq. He was actively involved in public service and legal matters, demonstrating a commitment to his state and nation. At the time of his death from glioblastoma in 2015 at the age of 46, he was a prospective candidate for governor. His legacy includes the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative, part of the 21st Century Cures Act, dedicated to cancer research.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

February 3, 1969: Beau Biden's Birth

On February 3, 1969, Joseph Robinette "Beau" Biden III was born in Wilmington, Delaware. He was the eldest child of Joe Biden and Neilia Hunter Biden.

Others born on this day/year

December 18, 1972: Death of Beau Biden's mother and sister

On December 18, 1972, Beau Biden's mother, Neilia, and his infant sister, Naomi, were killed in an automobile accident while Christmas shopping. Beau and his brother Hunter were critically injured but survived. Beau sustained multiple broken bones while Hunter sustained injuries to his skull and severe traumatic brain damage.

June 1977: Joe Biden's remarriage to Jill Jacobs

In June 1977, Beau Biden's father, Joe Biden, married Jill Jacobs, who became Beau's stepmother. Beau and Hunter encouraged their father to remarry.

1981: Birth of Ashley Biden

In 1981, Beau Biden's half-sister, Ashley, was born.

1991: Graduation from the University of Pennsylvania

In 1991, Beau Biden graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity.

1995: Counsel to the Office of Policy Development

In 1995, Beau Biden began working at the United States Department of Justice in Philadelphia as Counsel to the Office of Policy Development.

1998: Work in Kosovo

In 1998, Beau Biden worked in Kosovo on behalf of the OSCE to train judges and prosecutors for the local judicial system, following the Kosovo War.

1999: Work in Kosovo

In 1999, Beau Biden worked in Kosovo on behalf of the OSCE to train judges and prosecutors for the local judicial system, following the Kosovo War.

2001: Diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis

In 2001, Beau Biden was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis after returning from service in Kosovo.

2002: Beau Biden's Marriage to Hallie Olivere

In 2002, Beau Biden married Hallie Olivere.

2003: Joining the Delaware Army National Guard

In 2003, Beau Biden joined the Delaware Army National Guard and attended The JAG School at the University of Virginia.

2004: Partner at Bifferato, Gentilotti, Biden & Balick

In 2004, Beau Biden became a partner in the law firm of Bifferato, Gentilotti, Biden & Balick. He worked there for two years before being elected Attorney General of Delaware.

2004: End of tenure at United States Department of Justice

In 2004, Beau Biden concluded his tenure at the United States Department of Justice in Philadelphia, where he had been working as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office.

2004: Birth of Natalie Naomi Biden

In 2004, Beau Biden's daughter, Natalie Naomi, was born.

2006: Election as Attorney General of Delaware

In 2006, Beau Biden ran for and won the election for Attorney General of Delaware, defeating Ferris Wharton. Major issues in the campaign included the candidates' experience and proposed efforts to address sex offenders, internet predators, senior abuse, and domestic abuse.

2006: Birth of Robert Hunter Biden II

In 2006, Beau Biden's son, Robert Hunter Biden II, was born.

2007: Attorney General of Delaware

In 2007, Beau Biden became the 44th Attorney General of Delaware. He served in this role until 2015.

October 3, 2008: Deployment to Iraq

On October 3, 2008, Beau Biden's unit was activated to deploy to Iraq. They were sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, for pre-deployment training. This occurred the day after his father participated in the vice presidential debate.

2008: Introduction of Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention

In 2008, Beau Biden introduced his father, Joe Biden, when Joe was nominated for vice president at the Democratic National Convention. His speech recounted the auto accident that killed his mother and sister.

2008: Criticism over Robert H. Richards IV prosecution

In 2008, Beau Biden was criticized for his handling of the prosecution of Robert H. Richards IV, who was accused of sexually assaulting his young daughter. Biden's office charged Richards with two counts of second-degree rape but later entered a plea bargain with Richards in which Richards pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree rape.

2008: Joe Biden's election to the vice presidency

In 2008, Joe Biden was elected to the vice presidency and resigned from the Senate. It fueled speculation that Beau would run.

January 2009: Travel to Washington, D.C. for Presidential Inauguration

In January 2009, Beau Biden traveled to Washington, D.C. from Iraq for the presidential inauguration and his father's swearing-in as vice president, then returned to Iraq.

July 4, 2009: Visit from Joe Biden in Iraq

On July 4, 2009, Beau Biden received a visit from his father, Joe Biden, at Camp Victory in Iraq.

September 2009: Return from Iraq

In September 2009, Beau Biden returned from Iraq after completing his yearlong stint on active duty, which included a 7-month deployment in the combat zone with the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. During his deployment, he continued to serve as Delaware's attorney general by working with his office's senior staff.

October 2009: Considering a Senate run

In October 2009, Beau Biden stated that he was considering a run for the Senate and that he would make a final decision in January.

May 2010: Hospitalization for a Mild Stroke

In May 2010, Beau Biden was admitted to Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware, after complaining of a headache, numbness, and paralysis. Officials stated that he had suffered a mild stroke. He was later transferred to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia for observation.

November 2, 2010: Re-election as Delaware Attorney General

On November 2, 2010, Beau Biden was re-elected to a second term as Delaware Attorney General, beating Independent Party of Delaware candidate Doug Campbell.

2010: Speculation about Senate run

In 2010, there was speculation that Beau Biden would run in the special election to fill his father's vacant Senate seat, but he ultimately did not.

August 2013: Diagnosis of Glioblastoma Multiforme

In August 2013, Beau Biden was admitted to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme after experiencing disorientation and weakness. A lesion was removed, and he underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

2013: Diagnosis of cancer

In 2013, Beau Biden was diagnosed with cancer, though it was in remission at the time of his announcement to run for governor.

2014: Announcement of Candidacy for Governor of Delaware

In 2014, Beau Biden announced his intention to run for governor of Delaware in the 2016 election.

May 20, 2015: Hospitalization at Walter Reed

On May 20, 2015, Beau Biden was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, due to a recurrence of brain cancer.

May 30, 2015: Beau Biden's Death

On May 30, 2015, Beau Biden died of glioblastoma at the age of 46. At the time of his death, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor of Delaware in the 2016 gubernatorial election.

November 4, 2015: Posthumous Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award

On November 4, 2015, Beau Biden was posthumously awarded the Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award by the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY) for his service to mankind.

2015: Diagnosis of cancer

In 2015, Beau Biden had been diagnosed with cancer. This information was made public around the time he announced his run for governor.

August 2016: Kosovo Highway Renamed in Honor of Beau Biden

In August 2016, a southeastern Kosovar highway was renamed "Joseph R. 'Beau' Biden, III" to honor Beau Biden's contributions to Kosovo. Joe Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, and Hunter Biden attended the ceremony.

2016: Gubernatorial Election Candidate

In 2016, Beau Biden was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor of Delaware, however he passed away the previous year.

2016: Naming of the Major Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center

In 2016, The Major Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center in New Castle, Delaware, was named for Beau Biden.

2016: Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative

In 2016, a portion of the 21st Century Cures Act was named the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative after him. A scholarship was also established at Syracuse University College of Law.

November 14, 2017: Publication of "Promise Me, Dad"

On November 14, 2017, Joe Biden published a memoir titled "Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose", reflecting on Beau Biden's illness and death.

March 2, 2020: Joe Biden compares Beau to Pete Buttigieg in speech

On March 2, 2020, Joe Biden mentioned Beau in a speech, comparing him to Pete Buttigieg after Buttigieg endorsed Biden for the 2020 presidential election.