Rees Hopkin Rhys (19 March 1819 – 1899) was an industrialist, landowner and prominent local government figure in the Aberdare area for much of the nineteenth century.
[2] Following his accident, Rhys devoted much of his time and energy to public life and became a highly respected figure in the Aberdare Valley, even among those of opposing political views.
This, in turn, led to an attack on Rhys's record as a magistrate and guardian of the poor in the columns of the radical journal, Baner ac Amserau Cymru.
[1] In 1898, in recognition of his long public service, and to mark the onset of his eightieth year, Rhys was presented with a testimonial and a gift of a thousand guineas.
[5] At the time of his death Rhys was described as a moderate liberal who took little interest in national politics and concentrated on his work on local public bodies.