beecham was born in 1879 in st. helens, lancashire in the north of england. beecham was self-taught as a conductor. he had some private composition lessons from charles wood in london and moszkowski in paris. beecham’s father, sir joseph beecham, had made a lot of money making medicines (the famous beecham pills) and he also liked music, so he was able to help his son in his career as a musician.