Career
Sir Mark Rainsford was Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1700 to 1701. While the Lord Mayor, he presided over the unveiling of the King William III equestrian statue in College Green, Dublin on 1 July 1701. He also served as High Sheriff of Dublin 1690-1691.
In 1715 the business went to Captain Paul Espinasse.
In 1750 the business fell back into the Rainsford family. Rainsford"s grandson, also called Mark Rainsford, signed over the now famous 9000 year lease to Arthur Guinness on 31 December 1759.
The original lease with signatures are viewable on a tour of the Guinness Brewery at the Guinness Storehouse. Rainsford was married for the second time, to Isabella Bolton, on 16 May 1695 in Saint Michan"s Church Dublin.
He died in 1709, and Rainsford Street (which stands at the junction of Crane Street and the entrance to Guinness Brewery) was named in his honour.