Francis Homfray (1725-1798)
Francis Homfray (7 September 1725 – 1798) was an English industrialist and one of the founders of the iron industry in South Wales.
Homfray, whose family were originally from Yorkshire, had been successful in the iron trade in Coalbrookdale, Staffordshire, and made his home at Wollaston Hall, Worcestershire.
He married Hannah Popkin of Coytrahen, near Bridgend, Glamorgan.
1749 Francis Homfray and Richard Jordan, both of Staffordshire, leased "a water corn grist mill called Velin Griffith and a forge in the parish of Whitchurch" - probably there was an ironworks on the site before then.
1782 Homfray leased an ironworks from Anthony Bacon, to be used mainly for manufacturing weapons and ammunitions.
1784 Homfray complained that he was not receiving sufficient metal and tapped Bacon's furnace at Cyfarthfa. A quarrel ensued and, in October, Homfray assigned his lease to David Tanner of Monmouth.
Soon after this, Homfray established his three sons, Jeremiah Homfray, Thomas Homfray and Samuel Homfray, in a new iron-works at Pen-y-darren at Merthyr Tydfil.