Richard Foley

Richard Foley (1580–1657) was a prominent English ironmaster. He is best known from the folktale of "Fiddler Foley", which is either not correct or does not apply to him.

Ironmaster Richard was the son of another Richard Foley (1551–1600), a nailer at Dudley, though the son is likely to have traded in nails rather than making them. In the 1620s, he became a partner in a network of ironworks in south Staffordshire, which were undoubtedly the source of the family's fortune. Richard certainly leased Hyde Mill in 1627 and converted it to a slitting mill, though it was not the first in England or even in the Midlands.

By his second marriage to Alice (died 1663), daughter of Sir William Brindley of Willenhall, he had a large family: Anne married William Normansell of Wolverhampton Edward of Dudley Priscilla (died 1687) married 1. Ezekiel Wallis of Bristol and 2. Henry Glover of Oldswinford Thomas Foley (1616–1677), another prominent ironmaster, whose descendant was elevated to the peerage as Baron Foley. Honor married Henry Pretty of Ireland Margaret married Edward Tyson of Bristol. Robert Foley (died 1676), ironmonger Samuel Foley, a cleric, of Clonmel and Dublin Sarah married 1. John Baker and 2. George Hill of Bridgnorth John Foley (1631–), a Turkey merchant, i.e. a trader with the Levant.

Foley's own pretensions to gentility were not recognized by the College of Arms, his right to use the arms he claimed being denied at the visitation of Worcestershire in 1634.