Lord Iveagh was manager of the Guinness company until 1889, subsequently becoming the chairman of the board. Like his father and brother a generous philanthropist, he contributed almost £1 million to slum clearance and housing projects, among other causes. After his death in 1927 at Grosvenor Place, London, he was buried at Elveden, Suffolk, leaving his house and estate of Ken Wood, Hampstead, to the nation, along with its large collection of works of art.
The title Earl of Iveagh (pronounced "Ive-a") was created in 1919 in the Peerage of the United Kingdom for the 1st Viscount Iveagh.
Lord Iveagh had previously been created Viscount Iveagh, of Iveagh in the County of Down, in 1905, and Baron Iveagh, of Iveagh in the County of Down, in 1891.
Lord Iveagh is also a Baronet of the United Kingdom (created 1885), styled "of Castle Knock", in the County of Dublin.