born on 2 april 1910, beatty was the younger son of david beatty, 1st earl beatty and his wife ethel. an heiress in her own right, beatty's mother was the only daughter of marshall field, an american millionaire who was involved in the department store business in chicago. his mother's death in 1932 made beatty a millionaire. as a baby beatty suffered from ophthalmia neonatorum. it affected his eyesight and personality throughout his life; he was frequently high-strung, and his eyesight gradually deteriorated. beatty had consulted eye specialists in the uk and the us and also had many eye surgeries; none were able to offer him any improvement for the condition.