Francis Homfray
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Francis Homfray (September 7, 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. In order to ensure a livelihood for his sons, Jeremiah, Thomas and Samuel Homfray, he approached Anthony Bacon in September 1782 and leased an ironworks from him, to be used mainly for manufacturing weapons and ammunitions. The eventual result was the establishment of the Penydarren works at Merthyr Tydfil.
