He was born in 1828 at Hochstadt, Swabia, Germany.

Beckler studied medicine at the University of Munich. He graduated in 1855 left Hamburg on 30 September 1855 on the Johann Cesar Godeffroy. He arrived at Moreton Bay on 2 February 1856 and then lived variously in Ipswich, Brisbane, Tenterfield and Warwick. An old professor from Munich put him in touch with Mueller and Neumayer. In January 1859, Beckler was working at the Melbourne Hospital.

On the recommendation of a work colleague at the Melbourne Hospital, Dr William Gilbee (a member of the Exploration Committee of the Royal Society of Victoria), he was appointed to the VEE at an Ordinary meeting of the Exploration Committee held on Friday, 13 July 1860, as Scientific Observers' Botanical Observer on a salary of £300 p.a.

He resigned at Menindie between the 14th and 21st October 1860 but waited for replacement.

After leaving the VEE he appeared at the Commission of Enquiry and then sailed to Germany. He died in 1914.