GUINNESS, the name of a family of Irish brewers. The firm was founded by ARTHUR GUINNESS, who about the middle of the i 8th century owned a modest brewing-plant at Leixlip, a vil lage on the river Liffey. In or about 1759 Arthur Guinness (d. 1855), purchased a small porter brewery at St. James's Gate, Dublin. By careful attention to the purity of his product, coupled with a shrewd perception of the public taste, he built up a con siderable business. But nis third son, BENJAMIN LEE GUINNESS (1798-1868), may be regarded as the real maker of the firm, of which about 1825 Ise was given sole control. The trade in Guinness's porter and stout had been confined hitherto to Ireland, but Guinness established agencies in the United Kingdom, on the continent, in the British colonies and in America. The export trade soon assumed huge proportions; the brewery was con tinually enlarged, and Guinness, who in 1851 was elected first lord mayor of Dublin, became the richest man in Ireland. He spent some of his wealth on the restoration of St. Patrick's cathe dral, Dublin. He represented Dublin city in parliament as a Conservative from 1865 till his death, and in 1867 was created a baronet. He was succeeded in the control of the business by Sir Arthur Edward Guinness (b. 184o), his eldest, and Edward Cecil Guinness (b. 1847), his third, son. Sir ARTHUR EDWARD GUINNESS was in 188o raised to the peerage as Baron Ardilaun, and disposed of his share in the brewery to his brother Edward Cecil Guinness. In 1886 EDWARD CECIL GUINNESS disposed of the brewery, the products of which were then being sent all over the world, to a limited company, in which he remained the largest shareholder. Edward Cecil Guinness was raised to the peerage in 1891 as Baron Iveagh, created Earl of Iveagh (q.v.) in 1919 and died in 1927, was succeeded by his son, Rupert, Viscount Elve don. The ordinary capital of the company has been increased to f 7,500,000, and in one year the total taxation has exceeded £16,000,000. Three thousand men are employed in the Guinness breweries.