Key Takeaways:
- The new Netflix show House of Guinness follows the fourth generation of the Guinness family—Arthur IV, Edward, Anne, and Ben—as they inherit the Irish brewing business.
- The original Arthur Guinness founded the beer giant in the 1750s after signing a 9,000-year lease for an abandoned brewery in Dublin.
- By 1868, when Arthur IV, Edward, Anne, and Ben were in line to take over, the brewery had already become an international success that survived an internal sex scandal.
When Benjamin Guinness, the figurehead of Ireland’s most recognizable brewery, dies, his four children must battle for control of the business and preserve his family’s legacy.
This unique succession story is the basis for House of Guinness, the new Netflix series from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. Debuting Thursday, the show follows the Guinness children—Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben—as they look to expand the brewery’s reach and leave their own mark on Irish history.
Although the show may be a dramatization, generations of the real Guinness family have carried on the legacy through business acumen, philanthropy, and, in some cases, public scandal. In fact, the beer giant’s story dates back more than a century before the 1868 setting of House of Guinness. Here’s everything you need to know about the Guinness ancestors and their respective roles in the company’s early rise to prominence.
The original Arthur Guinness learned to brew from his father
Founder Arthur Guinness, the great-grandfather of Arthur IV (played by Anthony Boyle in House of Guinness), was born in 1725 near Celbridge, Ireland. According to the Guinness Storehouse, his father, Richard, worked as a land steward for the archbishop of Cashel. One of Richard’s duties was supervising the brewing of beer for workers on the estate, which is likely how Arthur developed an interest in the craft.
Rather than a vice to be commodified, beer was an important part of Irish society at the time. Its lower alcohol content helped reduce public drunkenness fueled by stronger drinks such as gin. It even provided a healthier alternative to water, which was often polluted and carried disease.
The archbishop died in 1752 and, in his will, bequeathed Arthur £100—the equivalent of four years of wages. Arthur used the money to start his own brewery in Leixlip, Ireland. Quickly proving himself capable as a business owner, he was soon eyeing expansion.
Arthur secured a 9,000-year lease for the Guinness brewery
Arthur saw potential in a abandoned brewery site at St James’ Gate in Dublin. On December 31, 1759, the 34-year-old entrepreneur signed a 9,000-year lease for the property, which spanned 64 acres in total. The deal also gave Arthur water rights for that area of the city—crucial for the brewing process, according to Guinness ambassador Mike Reardon.
The new space saw innovation within the brewery’s product line. Initially Arthur was brewing ale, but he began transitioning to porter during the 1770s. This style of beer, known for its dark color and unique flavor, originated in London. Arthur’s take eventually became the Guinness stout we know today.
In the 1790s, the brewery site itself underwent significant expansion as two large vathouses used to ferment the beer were completed. Another milestone arrived in 1796 when the first international shipment of Guinness left Dublin port, signaling the vast reach the company would achieve in the coming decades.
For all his achievements, Arthur seemingly shied away from boasting about his business. Only one portrait of his likeness is known to exist. A portion of the company’s growth is also owed to Arthur’s wife, an heiress named Olivia Whitmore, who married Guinness in 1761 and provided a large dowry of £1,000. The couple went on to have 21 children, though less than half reached adulthood.
Arthur Guinness II helped the company go global
Arthur’s death on January 23, 1803, spurred the first transition of brewery leadership. According to author Joe Joyce, the most able Guinness son—not necessarily the eldest—continued the line of succession during the brewery’s early existence. That was the case when Arthur’s second son, Arthur Guinness II, inherited the brewery and its operations.
Arthur II expanded the company’s global reach, catering to markets in the West Indies, Africa, Southeast Asia, and even the United States. By 1833, Guinness had become Ireland’s largest brewery.
A sex scandal almost ended the Guinness business
According to beer historian Martyn Cornell, two of Arthur II’s sons, Arthur III and his younger brother Benjamin, officially became partners in the business in their early 20s. However, as House of Guinness shows, Benjamin led the company by himself after their father’s death in June 1855. Why?
The reason, it turns out, was a public scandal involving Arthur III and his relationship with a brewery worker. Cornell writes that Arthur III, around age 42 at the time, “evidently became smitten” with Dionysius Boursiquot, an 18-year-old male clerk.
Most records of the incident have since been removed from the Guinness archive, but Arthur III had “apparently been issuing notes on the brewery partnership without the knowledge” of his father or brother. The secret payments suggest he was giving money to Boucicault either as a gift or blackmail.
Arthur III addressed the scandal in an 1839 letter to his father. “Believe me above all that ‘for worlds’ I would not hurt your mind, if I could avoid it—of all the living,” he wrote. “Your feelings are most sacred to me, this situation, in which I have placed myself, has long caused me the acutest pain.”
Another archived letter suggested the brewing business be “given up” amid the crisis. However, Arthur III ultimately left the family partnership willingly and took £12,000 to buy a new home at Stillorgan Park, located south of Dublin.
Benjamin Guinness and his son took the business to the modern age
Although the company’s esteem had taken a hit, Benjamin looked to solidify the reputation of its product. In 1862, the company introduced its trademark label which includes the signature of Arthur Guinness and the now-iconic Celtic harp.
Six years later, control of the brewery changed hands again after Benjamin died—where House of Guinness picks up. Upon his death, Benjamin had stipulated that his sons Arthur IV and Edward Cecil continue to run the brewery “at the same place by their Ancestors for so many years,” according to Stephen Mansfield’s book The Search for God and Guinness. But, seemingly sensing Arthur IV’s political aspirations—he had been elected to Dublin parliament—Benjamin added that if one of his sons should leave the business, he must sell his share to his brother “and to no other persona whatsoever.” That’s exactly what happened in 1876, as Arthur IV formally withdrew from Guinness and gave his share to Edward.
Unlike his father—Benjamin had been known for personally interacting with all tiers of Guinness workers—Edward took a hands-off approach as boss and delegated duties to trusted associates. He also embraced new technology and oversaw the construction of storage facilities for hops and grain, a second brewhouse, and a custom railway system to transport materials throughout the property, according to Mansfield.
Production rose steadily under his guidance, reaching 1.2 million barrels by 1886. That same year, Edward decided to make Guinness a publicly traded company. On October 25, the stock offering sold out within an hour. A third of 250,000 ordinary shares were reserved for Edward, who became the richest man in Ireland. As the dawn of the 20th century neared, Guinness had solidified its place in the global beer market.
Watch House of Guinness on Netflix starting September 25
It’s not clear how much House of Guinness will stick to the beer giant’s true history for the main plot. Creator Steven Knight previously hinted Benjamin’s death was a logical entry point to tell a story about rebelling against destiny.
“The thing that I most like about the family throughout all of their generations is that they seem to be aware of their own absurdity, which is a very important thing, because they get up to stuff, and they make lots and lots of money and they make the most beautiful beer in the world,” Knight told Newstalk Breakfast. “But they also do these silly things—it’s just so great to have these characters on the menu.”
You can pour a pint—for those of age—and catch House of Guinness when it begins streaming Thursday, September 25, on Netflix. It stars Anthony Boyle as Arthur Guinness IV, Louis Partridge as Edward Cecil Guinness, Emily Fairn as Anne Guinness, and Fionn O’Shea as Ben Guinness.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
