Richard Crawshay

Richard Crawshay (1 Oct 1739 – 27 June 1810) was a London iron merchant and then South Wales ironmaster; he was one of ten known British millionaires in 1799.

[1] Initially starting work aged 16, working for Mr Bicklewith of York Yard, Thames Street, London (to whom he was apprenticed) in a bar iron warehouse in London, he became sole proprietor of the business on Bicklewith's retirement in 1763.

In 1786, following the death of Anthony Bacon, he took over the whole Cyfarthfa Ironworks, in partnership with William Stevens (a London merchant) and James Cockshutt, who had previously managed the forge and boring mill for David Tanner.

He solved the problems of the puddling process by using an iron plate for the furnace ceiling and sea-washed sand for the floor.

By his last will he left 3⁄8 of his ironworks to son William Crawshay I, 3⁄8 to his son-in-law, Benjamin Hall and 1⁄4 to nephew Joseph Bailey.