The Guest family is a British family that has been prominent in business and politics since the 18th century. It was involved in the British iron and steel industry, particularly the
Dowlais Ironworks in
Wales, which later became part of
Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds. Hereditary titles held by members of the family include Baron Wimborne, Baron Ashby St Ledgers, and
Viscount Wimborne, all in the
Peerage of the United Kingdom.
John Guest
John Guest (1722–1785[1] or 25 November 1787[2][3]) was a
brewer, farmer, and coal
merchant in
Broseley, Shropshire. He collaborated with
Isaac Wilkinson in starting the
Plymouth Ironworks in 1763 and there came to the attention of
Thomas Lewis and the other Dowlais
partners. He moved to Dowlais and was appointed manager of the works on 30 April 1767. He built his first house at Morlais Brook, Gellifaelog, but, isolated from his family, became a "lonely and melancholy man". By 1767, Guest had moved most of his family to Dowlais.[2][4] His children were:
Thomas Guest (infra); and
Sarah Guest, who married William Taitt[2] (died 1815),[3] another of the Dowlais partners.
Thomas Guest
Thomas Guest (died 1807) continued his father's work at Dowlais. He married Jemima Revel Phillips of
Shifnal, Shropshire. They had three daughters and two sons:[5]
Josiah John Guest (infra); and
Thomas Revel Guest (1790–1837), a partner in Dowlais with two
shares, and the firm's agent in
Ireland. Along with his brother, he was one of the promoters and original shareholders of the
Taff Vale Railway. On his death, he left one share to his brother and one to his nephew,
Edward John Hutchins.[6]
Thomas Guest did much to modernise production at Dowlais, employing several of his relatives, including Cornelius Guest, Charles Guest and George Guest.[7]
Lionel Guest (1880–1935), was a co-founder of the
Ritz-Carlton Montreal. He married Flora Bigelow Dodge, daughter of
John Bigelow, in 1905. Flora was the author of Laughter and Tears (1926) and the mother, by her first marriage, of
John Bigelow Dodge;[10][11] and
Frederick Edward Guest (1875–1937), married Amy Phipps (1873–1959), daughter of American industrialist
Henry Phipps. The couple had two sons and a daughter, all of whom eventually immigrated to the United States:[14]
Raymond R. Guest (1907–1991), ∞ 1935 :
Elizabeth "Lily" Polk, ∞ 1953 : Ellen Tuck French Astor, ∞ Princess Caroline Cecile Alexandrine Jeanne Murat (1923-2012)
Arthur Ponsonby, 11th Earl of Bessborough (1912–2002), ∞ 1952 : Patricia Minnigerode (d. 1952), ∞ 1956 (div. 1963) : Anne Marie Galitzine (née Slatin), ∞ 1963 : Madeleine Lola Margaret Grand