Secrets, Scandals and Stout: Was Arthur Guinness really gay?

Netflix’s latest historical drama, House of Guinness, has stirred up more than just stout. The series, which premiered on 25 September, has captivated audiences with its lavish portrayal of 19th-century Ireland and the powerful Guinness dynasty. But it’s the depiction of Arthur Edward Guinness - heir to the brewing empire - as a gay man that has sparked widespread debate and curiosity.

In House of Guinness, Arthur Guinness (played by Anthony Boyle) is portrayed as a charismatic, politically ambitious aristocrat whose sexuality is both a source of personal liberation and public peril. The show presents Arthur as entering a “lavender marriage” with Lady Olivia Hedges, a union of convenience designed to shield his true identity in a society where homosexuality was criminalised.

Show creator Steven Knight insists the storyline is rooted in fact. “That’s true,” Knight told Yahoo UK. “He lived in a time when he couldn’t be openly gay, and in those days there were strategies and means of dealing with that situation.” 

However, historians remain divided. While there is no definitive evidence confirming Arthur’s sexuality, Irish journalist Joe Joyce speculated in his 2009 book The Guinnesses: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Most Successful Family that Arthur was “probably gay” and that his marriage to Olivia was a “mariage blanc” - a non-consummated union. The couple were married for nearly 50 years and had no children, a detail that adds weight to the theory but stops short of proof.

It’s important to clarify that the Arthur Guinness depicted in the series is not the founder of the brewery, but his great-grandson, Arthur Edward Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun. Born in 1840, he inherited the business after the death of his father, Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, in 1868. Arthur was known for his philanthropy, including the gifting of St Stephen’s Green to the city of Dublin, and served as a Member of Parliament under Benjamin Disraeli’s Conservative government. He died in 1915 at the age of 75.

House of Guinness is unapologetically fictionalised, with its creators blending historical fact with dramatic flair. The series includes scenes of blackmail, political scandal, and even an assassination attempt - none of which are documented in Arthur’s real life. Yet, the show’s depiction of Arthur’s sexuality has resonated with viewers, offering a rare glimpse into the hidden lives of queer individuals in Victorian Ireland.

Anthony Boyle’s performance has been widely praised, with critics noting his portrayal as both bold and nuanced. “Arthur didn’t feel shame about his own sexuality,” Boyle said in an interview. “It’s that the world was wrong.” 

So, was Arthur Guinness gay? The answer remains elusive. While House of Guinness presents a compelling narrative, it is ultimately speculative. What it does succeed in is opening a conversation about queer history, the erasure of LGBTQ+ lives from the historical record, and the courage it took to live authentically in a time of repression.