If you're missing the Succession shaped hole in your TV viewing schedule, then Netflix's upcoming drama The House of Guinness is sure to be a huge hit with you.
The drama will tell the story of the Guinness family, the Dublin lineage behind the infamous drink we know so well. The brand was founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759, with the company's chairman position being passed through the family. The Netflix show, from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, will focus on the power struggle that unfolded after the death of Benjamin Guinness in 1868 - leaving his four young children to navigate the business.
'The Guinness dynasty is known the world over – wealth, poverty, power, influence, and great tragedy are all intertwined to create a rich tapestry of material to draw from,' Knight told Netflix. 'I’ve always been fascinated by their stories and am excited to bring the characters to life for the world to see.'
Here's what we know about the real family behind the drama.
Benjamin Lee Guinness
Benjamin Lee Guinness was the grandfather of Guinness founder Arthur, and is often credited with increasing the success of the brand. In the show, he is portrayed as the patriarch of the family, whose death paves the way for drama to unfold.
‘House of Guinness is the extraordinary story of a family who happens to be the inheritors of the biggest brewery in the world,’ says Knight. ‘They’re young and are given the task of taking on this incredibly successful brand. The first priority is: Don’t screw it up. And the second priority is to make Guinness even bigger.’
Edward Guinness
Like his father, Edward has a fascinating true story. He was the second oldest son of the four, and is portrayed in the Netflix series by Louis Partridge. When his father died in 1868, he took over the company, and bought out his brother's half-share in 1876. When he was just 29, he gained full ownership of the Guinness company.
From there, Edward rapidly expanded the business, and its value. By 1886, the company was brewing 907,000 hogheads across the globe. When he floated two-thirds of the company in 1886 for £6 million, he became the richest man in Ireland and retired as a multi-millionaire age 40. He married Lady Adelaide Maria Guinness, his first cousin, in 1873.
Arthur Guinness
Arthur Guinness, the eldest son of the four, went down a different route to his brother, being voted in as a Conservative MP for Dublin in 1868. However, the election was then declared void due to his agent's misconduct, leading to his resignation. In 1876, he made the crucial decision to withdraw from the family brewery enterprise, leaving his brother Edward to expand it. He followed his father in becoming a landlord, and owned several estates in Galway.
Arthur, who is played by Anthony Boyle in the show, was also deeply philanthropic, contributing to cultural and healthcare institutions in Dublin, including the restoration of Marsh’s Library and expansion of the Coombe Women’s Hospital. He married Olivia Hedges-White in 1871.
Knight told Netflix that Arthur and Edward are the 'heart' of the House of Guinness. 'I won’t give away the plot — but they were given joint stewardship of the brewery for very interesting reasons,' he said. 'Before he died, their father very deliberately chained Arthur and Edward together in responsibility for the brewery. You’ll find out why when you watch.'
Anne Guinness
Anne Guinness, played by Emily Fairn in the Netflix show, was Benjamin's only daughter. Like Arthur, she became well known for her philanthropy and charitable work, especially with the poor and sick. In 1876, she founded St. Patrick’s Nursing Home in Dublin, and together with her husband, William Conyngham Plunket, she also played a major role in setting up educational institutions such as the Irish Clergy Daughters’ School. She had six children with her husband, two sons and four daughters.
Alice Hall is the Staff Writer at Grazia UK. She was previously a Junior Features Writer for The Daily Telegraph. At Grazia, she writes news and features about pop culture, dating, health, politics and interiors.