The History of Guinness World Records
During a shooting party in Country Wexford, Ireland, in 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver – the Managing Director of the Guinness Brewery – was involved in a dispute as to whether the golden plover was Europe’s fastest game bird, but in the host’s library he couldn’t find the answer using any of his reference books. In 1954, another argument arose as to whether the golden plover was faster than the grouse. Sir Hugh realized that such questions must be causing arguments in everywhere – in pubs, in homes, on shooting fields, - and that a definitive containing the answers would be of great use to the world (and would sell more Guinness!).
Chris Chataway, the record-breaking athlete who was working as an under-brewer in the Guinness Park Royal Brewery in London, recommended twins Norris and Ross McWhirter as the ideal duo to compile the book. Chataway had met the brothers at university, and knew of their love of facts. The twins, who had been working as sports journalists since 1950 - and also ran an agency in London supplying facts and figures to Fleet Street newspapers - were commissioned to create what would become The Guinness Book of Records.
The first edition was bound on 27 August 1955, and was an instant success, becoming Britain’s number one bestseller before Christmas. It then gained popularity and recognition with incredible speed to become the leading authority for world records around the globe.