Sculpture of a singular entrepreneur

A rare marble portrait bust due to go under the hammer at Bonham’s celebrates Lee Benjamin Guinness, 1st Baronet of Ashford (1798-1868), the first Irish entrepreneur to conquer global markets.

While it was Arthur Guinness who founded the Dublin brewery, his grandson Lee Benjamin made it a household name, worldwide. He joined the business at an early age, and in 1839 took sole control. By 1855 he was the wealthiest man in Ireland ...