Henry Givens Burgess facts for kids

Henry Givens Burgess

Henry Givens Burgess (born April 6, 1859 – died April 23, 1937) was an important Irish railway leader and politician. He helped manage train companies and also served in the government.

Early Life and Railway Career

Henry Givens Burgess was born in a place called Finnoe House in County Tipperary, Ireland. When he was just 14 years old, in 1873, he started working as a junior clerk for the Dublin and South Eastern Railway. This was his first step into the world of trains!

In 1878, he moved to a bigger company called the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). This company also ran trains in Ireland. He stayed with them for a very long time, until 1923.

Rising Through the Ranks

Henry Burgess worked hard and moved up quickly.

• From 1878 to 1883, he worked in Dublin helping to manage train traffic in Ireland.
• From 1883 to 1893, he was the company's main person in the North and Midlands of Ireland.
• From 1893 to 1898, he moved to Scotland and was the chief representative for the company in Glasgow.

In 1898, he returned to Dublin and became the Irish Traffic Manager for the LNWR. This was a very important job! He was in charge of all the train movements and operations in Ireland. He held this position until 1920. He also managed another railway line called the Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway.

Helping During Wartime

During the First World War, Henry Burgess took on even more big responsibilities. Besides his railway job, he helped the country by becoming:

• Director-General of Transport (in charge of all transportation).
• Shipping Controller (managing ships and sea travel).
• Coal Controller (making sure there was enough coal for everyone).

These roles were very important for Ireland during the war.

Leading Major Railways

After the war, Henry Burgess continued to rise in the railway world.

• In 1920, he became the Deputy General Manager of the London and North Western Railway.
• In December 1922, the LNWR joined with other companies to form a new, even bigger company called the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). Henry continued as Deputy General Manager for the LMS.
• In February 1924, he reached the very top! He was appointed the General Manager of the LMS, one of the largest railway companies in Britain and Ireland.

He finally retired in March 1927 after a long and successful career in railways.

Public Service and Politics

Besides his railway work, Henry Burgess was also involved in many other important areas.

• He was a member of the Dublin Port and Docks Board, which managed the busy port in Dublin.
• He was also the deputy chairman of the Dublin and South Eastern Railway Company.
• He served on the Unemployment Grants Committee in London, helping people find jobs.
• He was a director of the Great Southern Railways, another major Irish railway company.

In 1922, when the Irish Free State was formed, Henry Burgess was chosen to be a member of its first parliament, called the Senate of the Irish Free State. He served as a Senator until 1928.

He was also given a special honor called the Privy Council of Ireland in 1922. This honor was given to him for all his hard work and service during the war. It meant he could use the title "The Right Honourable."

Later Life

Henry Givens Burgess passed away on April 23, 1937. He was on a fishing holiday at his country home in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, when he died. He was 78 years old.