Ever since Netflix announced House of Guinness, expectations were high. Another period drama with a modern narrative, based on a true story — albeit with some creative liberties — and created by Steven Knight, the mind behind Peaky Blinders, it already felt like a guaranteed hit. A cast of acclaimed young British actors and a sharp script promised a gripping family saga. However, the drama here extends far beyond inheritance disputes: there’s an entire historical context in the background that international audiences need to understand.

Benjamin Lee Guinness was one of the most influential figures in 19th-century Ireland. Heir to one of the country’s largest fortunes, he was the visionary who turned Guinness into a global empire — but he was also a tireless philanthropist, a man of faith, and a civic-minded leader. Affectionately called “The Governor” by his children, Sir Benjamin turned Guinness into a symbol of Irish prosperity. His death — and the reading of his will — not only shocked Dublin society but also shaped the future of his family and the brewery itself.

The Final Chapter of a Patriarch

Sir Benjamin’s final months were marked by a mix of political ambition and physical exhaustion. Newly made baronet and member of Parliament, he had settled in London, only to quickly lose his taste for politics. In letters to the eldest son, Arthur, the youngest son Edward Cecil described his father as “very weak and with no appetite,” almost forced to keep up with Westminster’s rhythm when all he wanted was the peace of St. Anne’s.

Netflix amplifies this conflict between duty and the desire for rest, creating tense scenes between Benjamin and his children — moments not recorded in history, but dramatically effective. Still, the essence is true: even ill, he stayed in London to cast a crucial vote on franchise reform. He died just days later, on May 19, 1868, and was brought back to Ireland for burial.

Luxury with Purpose

Benjamin Lee lived surrounded by comfort, but always tempered by Protestant discipline and a strong sense of Christian duty. St. Stephen’s Green, St. Anne’s, and Ashford Castle were stages for a life of abundance, but also of discipline: daily prayers, strict education, and early work for the children. It was a wealth of pedagogy. The series translates this contrast by showing lavish banquets alongside conversations about duty and legacy.

The Will That Changed Everything

Sir Benjamin’s death revealed the largest estate ever recorded in Ireland at the time — more than £1.1 million. But what truly caused a stir was the way he divided his fortune.

Arthur Edward, the eldest, inherited Ashford Castle and St. Anne’s, as well as the baronetcy. Edward Cecil, the youngest, received the family house at St. Stephen’s Green and, together with his brother, stewardship of the brewery. Lee, the second son, was given country properties and a large sum of money — but with strict clauses dictating how it should be spent, as though his father were still guiding him after some youthful financial missteps. Annie, the only daughter, received an investment fund with fewer restrictions but, as was expected for a woman of her time, had no role in the business.

Netflix turns this inheritance into a charged confrontation scene, filled with resentment and open disputes. In real life, the process was more discreet — but Benjamin indeed treated his children unequally, a decision that would echo for generations.

An Empire with a Soul

Perhaps the most significant part of the will was how Benjamin treated the brewery — almost like a fifth child. He directed that the business remain in family hands, with Arthur and Edward as partners, and established clauses to prevent outside interference. This decision shielded Guinness from external pressures and allowed it to become the largest brewery in the world.

The series dramatizes this clause, suggesting it became a source of tension and mistrust between the brothers — something not confirmed by historical record, but effective in underlining the emotional price of great fortunes.

Between History and Fiction

The greatest strength of House of Guinness is the way it brings to life the Dublin of the time, a city in transition, and portrays Benjamin Lee as a man caught between duty and family. Like any good historical drama, it amplifies conflicts that may have been quieter in reality but does so without betraying the spirit of the story.

In the end, Benjamin Lee Guinness’s life was about legacy — of a man who not only built a business empire but carefully planned for its future. Guinness remains, to this day, a name filled with history, identity, and purpose.

In a follow-up piece, I’ll dive into the series itself, how it transforms fact into drama, and why those narrative choices help keep the Guinness family myth alive.