Francis Homfray

Francis Homfray (7 September 1725 – 1798) was an English industrialist and one of the founders of the iron industry in South Wales.

He came from a village near Rotherham called Wales which was in the county then known as the West Riding of Yorkshire.

His father had been successful in the iron trade in Coalbrookdale, Staffordshire, and he made his home at Wollaston Hall, Worcestershire, and at Stourton Mill.

[1] He approached Anthony Bacon (with whom he subsequently quarrelled) in September 1782 and leased an ironworks from him, to be used mainly for manufacturing weapons and ammunitions.

His three younger sons were employed there: Thomas, Jeremiah, and Samuel Homfray.