 He served as the twentieth Chancellor of the University of Dublin from 1927 to 1963, succeeding his father who was Chancellor between 1908 and 1927.Guinness was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.He was a lieutenant in the 1st London Volunteer battalion, and in March 1900 volunteered for active service in South Africa during the Second Boer War, where he served with the Irish Hospital Corps.