Henry Givens Burgess

Who was Henry Givens Burgess?

Henry Givens Burgess PC 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.