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;[11][12] and
Lord Wimborne resided at the family residence, Canford Manor, and his wife Cornelia was instrumental in overseeing the construction of estate cottages, started by Charlotte Guest, to improve the living conditions for workers on the estate. The cottages are known as 'Lady Wimborne Cottages' in memory of her role.[14]
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:[16]
Raymond R. Guest (1907–1991), ∞ 1935 : Elizabeth "Lily" Polk, ∞ 1953 : Ellen Tuck French Astor, ∞ Princess Caroline Cecile Alexandrine Jeanne Murat (1923-2012)
