House of Guinness Family Tree & Character Connections

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for House of Guinness season 1!Netflix’s House of Guinness takes a semi-fictionalized approach to the Irish Guinness family’s story in 1868, primarily focusing on the four siblings who would change the family’s legacy and business forever. Though there are some fictional people included, House of Guinness’ cast and characters largely consist of real-life historical figures connected to the family at that time.

The Steven Knight-created series begins with patriarch Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness’ sudden death in 1868, leaving his four children to take over the family’s brewery, philanthropy, political involvement, societal reputation, and burdens amid their own complex personal troubles.While these responsibilities are largely assumed by the siblings Edward, Arthur, Benjamin, and Anne, House of Guinness also contends with their aunts, uncles, cousins, and new spouses.

By House of Guinness season 1’s ending, the family tree also grows significantly as the new generation takes over. With so many Guinnesses at play in Netflix’s September 2025-debuting series, it can be difficult to keep track of how they’re all related and what roles they serve in the family’s conflicts. Now, those connections, backstories, and identifiers can all be found in one place.

Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness

Anne, Arthur, Benjamin & Edward’s Father

The patriarch of the Guinness family in the series is Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, who is revealed to be dead in the show’s opening scene. The series kicks off with a procession of Benjamin’s body through town, which leads to trouble and obstacles from different assemblies of evangelists and Fenians in Dublin who opposed the late Guinness leader.

Born in 1798 as the son of brewer Arthur Guinness II, Benjamin Lee Guinness was the husband of his first cousin, Elizabeth Guinness, with whom he had three sons, Arthur, Benjamin, and Edward, and one daughter, Anne. Following the death of his wife, Benjamin raised the four children in Dublin while leading the family’s political, business, and philanthropic efforts.

In 1868, Benjamin Lee Guinness died of unknown causes, with the series noting that he had only been ill for a short time prior to his death. At the time of his passing, Benjamin represented Dublin at the House of Commons in London, had sole control within the family of the Guinness Brewery (which he greatly expanded), and was involved in philanthropic plans to restore historic buildings in Ireland.

Arthur Guinness

Eldest Son Of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness

Portrayed in House of Guinness by Masters of the Air actor Anthony Boyle, Arthur Guinness is the eldest son of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness and brother to Benjamin, Edward, and Anne. When the series begins, Arthur has spent the last five years in London, with his father’s death forcing him to return to Dublin and assume his role as the new head of the family.

Though House of Guinness establishes that Arthur had no interest in running the brewery, his father decreed in his will that he would have to equally carry on the brewery operations with his brother, Edward, or otherwise forfeit his entire inheritance. As such, Arthur must simultaneously help manage the brewery while running a campaign to be elected into his father’s former political seat in the House of Commons.

Netflix’s new Peaky Blinders replacement series reveals early on that Arthur Guinness is gay, though the laws of the era forbid him from publicly disclosing his sexuality. However, Arthur must still find a wife to marry and uphold the clan’s reputation. After striking a deal to permit sexual relationships outside their marriage, Arthur marries Lady Olivia, the daughter of an indebted earl.

Benjamin Guinness

Second Son Of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness

Fionn O'Shea looking disappointed from House of Guinness — Fionn O’Shea looking disappointed from House of Guinness

Played by Fionn O’Shea, Benjamin Guinness is the second son of the late Benjamin, younger brother to Arthur and Anne, and older brother to Edward. Benjamin is quickly revealed to have drinking and gambling problems, leading him to be more of an outcast within his family. In his father’s will, Benjamin is only left a controlled annual income rather than a larger inheritance due to the “burden” such temptations may give him.

Subsequently, Benjamin becomes a captain in the Royal Horse Guards and marries Lady Henrietta St. Lawrence. However, House of Guinness explains the marriage isn’t a happy one, with Benjamin preferring the company of the woman he really loves, Charlotte.

Anne Guinness

Daughter Of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness

Portrayed by Saturday Night cast member Emily Fairn, Anne Guinness is the eldest child and only daughter of the late Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. At the series’ start, Anne is the only Guinness child already married, with her husband being William Plunket. Shortly before House of Guinness season 1’s ending, Anne gives birth to her first child, another William Plunket.

Though Anne had hoped to be able to take more autonomy and control in the family following her father’s death, the societal landscape of the time didn’t allow women to take roles with such authority. Consequently, Anne was given the role of helping to find Edward and Arthur suitable wives while still taking the lead on the family’s philanthropic endeavors.

Edward Guinness

Youngest Son Of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness

Enola Homes actor Louis Partridge stars in House of Guinness as Edward Guinness, the youngest child of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. Far more than his siblings Arthur, Benjamin, and Anne, Edward took a passionate interest in the operations of the family brewery, and was responsible for the factory’s expansions, reforms, and successes after their father’s death.

As in real life, Edward goes on to marry his third cousin Adelaide “Dodo” Guinness, who came from the banking side of the family rather than the brewing side.

Agnes Guinness

Aunt To Anne, Arthur, Benjamin & Edward

Dervla Kirwan looking shocked from House of Guinness

Another key family member is Aunt Agnes Guinness, the aunt to Arthur, Anne, Benjamin, and Edward. As one of the remaining Guinness family elders, Agnes is tasked with upholding the family’s reputation and guiding the young Guinnesses in assuming their new responsibilities. Primarily, Agnes’ role is to find suitable marriages for the late Benjamin’s sons.

Henry Grattan

Cousin To Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness

Michael Colgan looking at a waiter from House of Guinness

House of Guinness’ titular family also includes Reverend Henry Grattan. While the clergyman is referred to by Arthur, Anne, Benjamin, and Edward as their “uncle,” Henry is actually a first cousin to the late Sir Benjamin Guinness. The evangelist Henry largely disapproves of the family’s “non-Christian” activities and works against them, believing Arthur stole his inheritance.

Byron Hedges

Cousin To Anne, Arthur, Benjamin & Edward

Game of Thrones star Jack Gleeson enters House of Guinness’ story when his character, Byron Hedges, introduces himself to Edward Guinness as his cousin. Byron is the illegitimate son of Patricia White Guinness, from the family’s banking side, and a Fenian Brotherhood member with the surname Hedges. Being a distant Guinness cousin to Edward, Anne, Arthur, and Benjamin, Byron takes charge of the brewery’s expansion into New York and America.

Lady Olivia Hedges

Wife Of Arthur Guinness

Lady Olivia in a crowd in House of Guinness season 1

Lady Olivia Hedges joins the Guinness family upon marrying Anthony Boyle’s Arthur. Olivia is the daughter of William Hedges-White, 3rd Earl of Bantry, though the debts of her family led them to seek out a fortuitous marriage with the new head of the Guinness line in Netflix’s historical TV series.

Adelaide “Dodo” Guinness

Third Cousin & Wife Of Edward Guinness

Elizabeth Daulau sitting at a tabe from House of Guinness

Already a member of House of Guinness’ titular clan, Adelaide “Dodo” Guinness is a third cousin to Anne, Arthur, Benjamin, and Edward. The daughter of lawyer and MP Richard Guinness, Adelaide descends from the Guinnesses’ banking side. Since she already understands the responsibilities and duties of a Guinness, Edward pursues her and eventually marries Adelaide before the end of season 1.