Henry Givens Burgess
Encyclopedia
Henry Givens Burgess PC(Ire)
(6 April 1859 – 23 April 1937) was an Irish
railway executive and politician.
Burgess was born at Finnoe
House, County Tipperary
. He joined the Dublin and South Eastern Railway
as a junior clerk in 1873. In 1878 he transferred to the London and North Western Railway
, which also operated in Ireland, with which he stayed until 1923. From 1878 to 1883 he worked for the Irish Traffic Manager in Dublin, from 1883 to 1893 he was the company's representative in the North
and Midlands of Ireland, and from 1893 to 1898 he was the company's chief representative in Scotland
, based in Glasgow
. In 1898 he was appointed Irish Traffic Manager himself and moved back to Dublin, occupying the post until 1920. In this post he was also manager of the Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway.
During the First World War he served as Director-General of Transport, Shipping Controller, and Coal Controller in Ireland in addition to his company responsibilities. In 1920 he was appointed Deputy General Manager of the LNWR and from December 1922 continued in this role for its successor, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
. In February 1924 he was appointed General Manager of the LMS. He retired in March 1927.
In addition, Burgess was a member of the Dublin Port and Docks Board, deputy chairman of the Dublin and South Eastern Railway Company, a member of the Unemployment Grants Committee in London
, and a director of the Great Southern Railways
. He was elected to the Senate of the Irish Free State on its formation and appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland
in the 1922 New Year Honours for his wartime services, entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable".
He died at his country residence in Enniscorthy
, County Wexford
, while on a fishing holiday.
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(6 April 1859 – 23 April 1937) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
railway executive and politician.
Burgess was born at Finnoe
Finnoe, North Tipperary
Finnoe is a civil parish in the barony of Ormond Lower, North Tipperary, Ireland. It is located close to Borrisokane....
House, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
. He joined the Dublin and South Eastern Railway
Dublin and South Eastern Railway
The Dublin and South Eastern Railway was an Irish gauge railway in Ireland from 1846 to 1925.It was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1846 as the "Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin Railway Company". In 1860 it was renamed the "Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway Company" and on 31...
as a junior clerk in 1873. In 1878 he transferred to the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
, which also operated in Ireland, with which he stayed until 1923. From 1878 to 1883 he worked for the Irish Traffic Manager in Dublin, from 1883 to 1893 he was the company's representative in the North
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and Midlands of Ireland, and from 1893 to 1898 he was the company's chief representative in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, based in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. In 1898 he was appointed Irish Traffic Manager himself and moved back to Dublin, occupying the post until 1920. In this post he was also manager of the Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway.
During the First World War he served as Director-General of Transport, Shipping Controller, and Coal Controller in Ireland in addition to his company responsibilities. In 1920 he was appointed Deputy General Manager of the LNWR and from December 1922 continued in this role for its successor, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
. In February 1924 he was appointed General Manager of the LMS. He retired in March 1927.
In addition, Burgess was a member of the Dublin Port and Docks Board, deputy chairman of the Dublin and South Eastern Railway Company, a member of the Unemployment Grants Committee in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and a director of the Great Southern Railways
Great Southern Railways
The Great Southern Railways Company was an Irish company that from 1925 until 1945 owned and operated all railways that lay wholly within the Irish Free State .-Formation:...
. He was elected to the Senate of the Irish Free State on its formation and appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
in the 1922 New Year Honours for his wartime services, entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable".
He died at his country residence in Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy is the second largest town in County Wexford, Ireland. The population of the town and environs is 9538. The Placenames Database of Ireland sheds no light on the origins of the town's name. It may refer either to the "Island of Corthaidh" or the "Island of Rocks". With a history going...
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, while on a fishing holiday.