In the Guinness family, some names have shone brighter than others… And after the great Arthur Guinness, the brewer who created the eponymous beer, it’s important to know Benjamin Guinness. A born entrepreneur, this Irishman has turned his family heritage into a fully-fledged empire. A fine strategist with a flair for business, his entrepreneurial talent has made him the richest man in Ireland! And there’s even talk of dedicating a series to him with House of Guinness on Netflix!
Arthur Guinness – Public domain
Benjamin Guinness was born in Dublin on November 1, 1798. He was then the grandson of Arthur Guinness (1725-1803), founder of an Irish brewery that had been producing an exceptional dark beer since 1759.
Benjamin was also the third son of Arthur Guinness II (1768-1855), and his wife Anne Lee. He grew up in a climate where the whole family seemed devoted to running the brewery.
Benjamin Guinness knew from an early age that he too was destined to one day take over the family business.
A rather poor student, he spent his childhood immersed in the atmosphere of the Dublin brewery, between the brewing vats and the beer distribution teams.
On February 24, 1837, he married Elizabeth Guinness, his first cousin and third daughter of Edward Guinness of Dublin. The couple moved to Beaumont House in north County Dublin, where they raised three sons and a daughter.
He eventually joined his father in his late teens. In 1839, he took over the brewery, becoming the family’s number 1.
Right from the start, Benjamin Guinness stood out for his boundless ambition. A visionary, he is determined not only to consolidate the brewery, but also to continue developing it, particularly internationally, in markets such as England.
In addition to these business strategies, he also diversified his fortune, surprising everyone by investing in the new Irish railway companies of the time.
A choice that paid off, since in 1867 Guinness owned over £86,000 worth of Irish railroad stock (the equivalent of £135 million today!). All the more reason to consolidate the power of the Guinness clan, making them the most influential family on the island at the time!
In 1851, he won the election to become Dublin’s first Lord Mayor under the new regime of the Reformed Society.
Benjamin Guinness went on to become the richest man in Ireland, thanks to a series of deals made both at home and abroad! By 1855, he was at the head of an unprecedented empire, constantly developing production techniques, enlarging the brewery premises, modernizing equipment and signing new contracts every day, giving Guinness total influence not only in Ireland but also in new markets!
But Benjamin Guinness’s professional life doesn’t stop at the brewery.
In 1863, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) from Trinity College Dublin. Highly involved in the life of the university, he could regularly be seen within the walls of the establishment, exchanging ideas with the greatest intellectuals of the time.
At the same time, Benjamin Guinness multiplied his actions for the city of Dublin. He single-handedly financed the restoration of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral from 1860 to 1865. A project costing over £150,000, which earned him the recognition of the people of Dublin! In gratitude, he was made a baronet in 1867 and even granted a family coat of arms!
At the same time, Guinness was also elected to the House of Commons in 1865 as Conservative Party representative for the Dublin City constituency, where he served until his death. Under Lord Derby, it initially supported Lord Palmerston, a Liberal, but switched allegiance in the 1860s when the Liberals proposed higher taxes on alcoholic beverages such as beer.
He died on May 19, 1868, and is buried in Dublin’s Mount Jerome Cemetery in the family vault.
When he died, the Guinness empire was at its peak. Irish dark beer is flowing like water throughout the country and is being exported to England. It is estimated that this success would never have been so great, were it not for the influence of Benjamin Guinness and his vision of commerce! So much so, in fact, that he’s considered one of the brewing world’s greatest players, along with his grandfather Arthur Guinness!
