The Master Brewer
Arthur Guinness (1725-1803)
A portrait of Arthur Guinness, brewer.
WikicommonsArthur Guinness (1725-1803)
Wikicommons
Wikicommons
Arthur Guinness (1725-1803)
A portrait of Arthur Guinness, brewer.
WikicommonsArthur Guinness was born in Celbridge in 1725. His father was Richard Guinness, a land steward on the estate of the Most Rev. Arthur Price, Archbishop of Cashel. One of Richard Guinness's duties was to supervise the brewing of beer for the estate's workers. Arthur had an early introduction to the business of brewing by helping his father.
When Archbishop Price died, he left Arthur £100 in his will. He used this money to set up a brewery in Leixlip in 1756. Three years later, he left his younger brother in charge of this brewery and went to Dublin to establish a brewery of his own. In December 1759, Arthur signed a 9,000 year lease on a small brewery at St. James's Gate in the city.
Barges Carrying Barrels of Guinnes, Dublin
This photo was taken outside the Guinness brewery at Victoria Quay, and was probably taken in the early 20th century. It shows the loading of casks of Guinness onto the steam barges at the loading wharfs outside of the Guinness brewery. These goods would have been transported down the river to the awaiting Channel steamers and other vessels at the North Wall where they would continue their journey to England and abroad for export.
Copyright managed by the Library CouncilBarges Carrying Barrels of Guinnes, Dublin
Copyright managed by the Library Council
Copyright managed by the Library Council
Barges Carrying Barrels of Guinnes, Dublin
This photo was taken outside the Guinness brewery at Victoria Quay, and was probably taken in the early 20th century. It shows the loading of casks of Guinness onto the steam barges at the loading wharfs outside of the Guinness brewery. These goods would have been transported down the river to the awaiting Channel steamers and other vessels at the North Wall where they would continue their journey to England and abroad for export.
Copyright managed by the Library CouncilArthur's friends were surprised that he had taken on a lease of the brewery at St. James's Gate. It was small and poorly equipped. There were also a number of other breweries in the area, so there was a lot of competition. Brewers were attracted to this part of the city because of a good supply of water which was essential for their business. Arthur Guinness decided to brew a beer which was quite new to the Irish market. The dark beer, known as 'porter', was a great success. By 1838, the Guinness brewery was the biggest in Ireland.
Arthur Guinness married Olivia Whitmore in 1761. They had twenty-one children but only ten survived into adulthood. Arthur handed over the running of his business to three of his sons. He spent his last years at Beaumount House in north County Dublin. He died on 23 January, 1803.