Benjamin Guinness facts for kids
Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness (born November 1, 1798 – died May 19, 1868) was a very important Irish businessman. He was famous for his brewing company, Guinness, and for being a kind person who gave a lot of money to help others. He was also known as the 1st Baronet.
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A Famous Brewer
Benjamin Guinness was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was the grandson of the first Arthur Guinness, who started the famous St. James's Gate Brewery in 1759. Benjamin joined his family's brewing business when he was a teenager.
He took full control of the company in 1839. By 1855, after his father passed away, Benjamin had become the richest man in Ireland. He did this by making the brewery much bigger and selling Guinness beer all over the world.
Growing the Business
The amount of beer sold grew a lot under Benjamin's leadership. In 1855, the brewery sold about 78,000 large barrels of stout. Just ten years later, in 1865, this number had almost tripled to 206,000 barrels!
About 112,000 of these barrels were sold in Ireland. This was a good sign that the country was recovering after the difficult Great Famine of the 1840s. The rest, about 94,000 barrels, were sent to Britain.
Even after Benjamin's death, the company continued to grow. By 1870, sales reached 256,000 barrels. His sons continued his work, and by 1879, sales had jumped to 565,000 barrels.
To help deliver all this beer, Benjamin also invested in new railway companies in Ireland. By 1867, his company owned a large amount of railway shares, showing how much he believed in modern transport.
A Leader in Dublin
In 1851, Benjamin Guinness was chosen as the first Lord Mayor of Dublin under a new city government. This was a very important role in the city.
Later, in 1863, he received an honorary degree from Trinity College Dublin. In 1867, he was given the special title of baronet by the King. This was a way to recognize his achievements.
Serving in Parliament
In 1865, Benjamin was elected to the British House of Commons, which is like the main parliament in Britain. He represented Dublin City as a member of the Conservative Party. He stayed in this role until he passed away.
Before this, he had supported the Liberal Party. However, the Liberals started suggesting higher taxes on drinks like beer, which would affect his business. So, he switched to the Conservative Party.
A Generous Helper
Benjamin Guinness was known for his great generosity. From 1860 to 1865, he paid for the complete restoration of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. He spent over £150,000 of his own money on this huge project. He even managed the work himself, without hiring an architect.
When the cathedral was finished in 1865, it was reopened for services. The people of Dublin were very thankful for his help. They gave him special thank-you messages to show how much they appreciated what he had done for their city.
Other Contributions
Because of his kindness, he was made a baronet in 1867. He also served on several important groups, including the church commissioners for Ireland. He was also a governor of Simpson's Hospital and a leader at the Dublin Exhibition Palace.
Benjamin passed away the next year in London. At the time, he was also helping to restore Archbishop Marsh's public library, which is next to St. Patrick's Cathedral. His son Arthur finished this project after his father's death.
He also cared about Irish history. He made sure to protect old historical sites on his large estates around Ashford Castle in County Galway. He bought this castle in 1855. A famous old monastery, Cong Abbey, was nearby, and he helped preserve the area.
His Family
On February 24, 1837, Benjamin married his cousin, Elizabeth Guinness. They had three sons and one daughter. They lived in Beaumont House in north County Dublin. In 1856, he also bought what is now Iveagh House in Dublin.
His oldest son, Arthur, took over the brewery with his younger brother, Edward. Benjamin's second son, also named Benjamin, became a Captain in the Royal Horse Guards in England. His daughter, Anne, married William, Lord Plunket.
Benjamin Guinness was buried in the family tomb at Mount Jerome Cemetery in Dublin. A bronze statue of him was placed in St. Patrick's churchyard in 1875 to honor his memory. This statue was restored in 2006.
