Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh
Arthur Francis Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 May 1937 |
| Died | 18 June 1992 (aged 55) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Known for | Chairman and president of Guinness plc; member of British House of Lords and Irish Senate |
Arthur Francis Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh (20 May 1937 – 18 June 1992), known as Viscount Elveden until 1967, was an Irish entrepreneur and political figure. He led Guinness plc as chairman from 1962 until 1986 and continued as its president up to his passing in 1992.
Biography
A member of the Anglo-Irish Guinness family, he was born to Arthur Onslow Edward Guinness, Viscount Elveden, and Lady Elizabeth Cecilia Hare. His father, who served as a Major in the Royal Artillery, died in combat in 1945. Iveagh received his education at Eton College, followed by Trinity College, Cambridge, and later at the University of Grenoble. He succeeded to the earldom upon his grandfather's death in 1967 and made his home at Farmleigh in Dublin.
During his leadership of Guinness from 1961 to 1992, Iveagh managed a phase characterized by expansion beyond brewing but ultimately faced decline. He held trustee roles with both the Iveagh Trust in Dublin and the Guinness Trust in London, organizations dedicated to charitable housing. Moreover, he was involved in equine breeding ventures, notably supporting Kildangan Stud, owned by his step-uncle Roderic More O'Ferrall.
Distinctively, Iveagh held seats simultaneously in two upper chambers: the British House of Lords between 1967 and 1992 and as an Irish Senator appointed by Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave from 1973 to 1977.
In his later years, he battled alcoholism. His tenure in business has been characterized as "at best undistinguished and at times positively disastrous," highlighting difficulties encountered during his governance of Guinness.
Personal life and family
On 12 March 1963, Lord Iveagh wed Miranda Daphne Jane Smiley, daughter of Major Michael Smiley of Castle Fraser, Aberdeenshire. The couple had four children before their divorce in 1984:
- Lady Emma Lavinia (born 7 December 1963), who resides at Parham House, Pulborough, and holds the position of Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex
- Lady Louisa Jane (born 20 February 1967)
- Edward Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh (born 25 August 1969)
- Hon. Rory Michael Benjamin Guinness (born 12 December 1974)
Lord Iveagh passed away from cancer at age 55 in Kensington and Chelsea, London, in 1992. His eldest son succeeded him in the family titles.