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House of Guinness has taken Netflix by storm, with Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight’s period drama chronicling the real-life saga of the Guinness dynasty.
Positioned directly following the demise of the family’s patriarch, the show tracks four siblings, including Anne Guinness (Emily Fairn) as they strive to uphold their father’s heritage.
Arthur Guinness (portrayed by Anthony Boyle) stands as the eldest heir and faces mounting pressure to assume his father’s parliamentary position.
Yet, he harbours an enormous secret that, should it come to light, would devastate the Guinness empire.
Ellen Cochrane (Niamh McCormack), a Fenian activist, remained resolute in her mission to expose his clandestine relationships with other men – but was this based on reality?
Was Arthur Guinness gay?
The Guinness genealogy presents a complex web, featuring numerous Arthurs throughout the bloodline.
The Arthur Guinness depicted in House of Guinness was additionally recognised as Lord Ardilaun, and according to The Irish Times, he reportedly maintained “an unconventional marriage and was probably gay”.
His union with Lady Olivia Charlotte Hedges-White took place in 1871, producing no offspring, with Charlotte accepting Arthur’s inclinations.
The Irish Independent similarly reported: “Ardilaun was probably gay and had an unconventional marriage which, it was agreed in advance, would not involve sex.”
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Joe Joyce, who penned the 2009 work The Guinnesses: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Most Successful Family, similarly documented how Arthur was “probably gay”. Whilst there is no detailed historical evidence that explains the extent of Arthur’s relationships in the series.
The Irish Times also highlighted how Lord Ardilaun was not the only homosexual member of the family, as the third Arthur Guinness was rumoured to have had a fleeting affair with the young playwright, Dion Boucicault.
In the series, Arthur found himself smitten with a lawyer, who ended the clandestine relationship as he wished to avoid being entangled in all the family drama.
House of Guinness is on Netflix
