Beck was born at Freiburg im Breisgau, and entered the army of the Austrian Empire in 1848. He distinguished himself as chief-of-staff of an infantry division at the Battle of Magenta, and in 1863 was made personal aide-de-camp to the Emperor. He held this position, with that of adjutant-general and chief of the imperial military chancery until 1882, winning the Emperor's confidence and exercising the greatest influence on all military questions. He retired at the age of 77, and was appointed commander of the Imperial Guard.