House of Guinness, a historical drama by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, is now available on Netflix. The series tells the true story of the family behind the Guinness brewing company in 19th-century Ireland and New York.
After their father’s death, his four children – Arthur (portrayed by Anthony Boyle), Edward (Louis Partridge), Anne (Emily Fairn) and Ben (Fionn O’Shea) are tasked with carrying on his legacy.
Arthur, as the eldest child, was the heir to the Guinness empire. Their father bequeathed the brewery to both Arthur and his brother Edward, triggering a complex sequence of events in the series.
The series follows Arthur’s reluctant foray into politics, and his personal relationships come under intense scrutiny, reports the Irish Mirror.
Here’s everything you need to know about the real Arthur Guinness and his fate.
Arthur and his wife Olivia in House of Guinness
Was the real Arthur Guinness married?
Danielle Galligan portrays Lady Olivia Hedges in the series, a character based on the real Lady Olivia Charlotte Hedges-White, Arthur’s wife.
The pair tied the knot in 1871, with Lady Olivia being the daughter of The 3rd Earl of Bantry.
As depicted in the series, they enjoyed a happy, albeit childless, marriage.
Anthony Boyle as the heir to the Guinness empire(Image: Netflix
What was Arthur Guinness’s big secret?
In the series, it emerges that Arthur was having homosexual affairs and was compelled to keep his sexuality a secret.
He confided in his family and his wife, aware that if his secret were to be revealed, it would tarnish the family name.
In reality, Arthur, also known as Lord Ardilaun, was said to have had “an unconventional marriage and was probably gay”, according to the Irish Times.
The Irish Independent further stated: “Ardilaun was probably gay and had an unconventional marriage which, it was agreed in advance, would not involve sex.”
Lord Ardilaun 1880 Vanity Fair image
Arthur Guinness’s election fraud scandal
The series gives particular focus to Arthur’s political role, following in his father’s footsteps as a parliamentary candidate.
The real Arthur Guinness represented Dublin in the House of Commons, initially with the support of the city’s publicans.
However, he lost the seat in a court case after it emerged that his agents had used voter bribery.
He was re-elected later, but lost the seat when his Conservative Party managers “tried to play the temperance card and the publicans finally deserted him”, the Irish Times explains.
The real Arthur Guinness’s death
The real Arthur Guinness passed away in 1915 at his home at St Anne’s, Raheny, and his barony became extinct after his death.
The cause of death has not been explicitly stated.
House of Guinness is on Netflix
