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William Crawshay II

1788 – 1867

Welsh ironmaster

MetallurgistIronmaster
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About William Crawshay II

Lived 1788 – 1867 (aged 79). William Crawshay II was a metallurgist and ironmaster.

William Crawshay II (27 March 1788 – 4 August 1867) was the son of William Crawshay I, the owner of Cyfarthfa Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.

William Crawshay II became an ironmaster when he took over the business from his father. He was known as the 'Iron King'. He was considered a hard master by some, and his employees took part in the protests that led to the Merthyr Rising of 1831.

He was responsible for the building of Cyfarthfa Castle (now a museum) in the 1820s. In 1847, he retired to Caversham Park in Oxfordshire (now Berkshire), where he died 20 years later. After a fire in 1850, Caversham Park was rebuilt by Crawshay to a design by Horace Jones who much later also designed London's Tower Bridge.

His son, Robert Thompson Crawshay, carried on the South Wales business.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Metallurgist, ironmaster
Positions held
High Sheriff of Glamorgan

People in William Crawshay II's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Crawshay II's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Crawshay II?

Welsh ironmaster (1788-1867)

When was William Crawshay II born?

William Crawshay II was born on 27 March 1788 in Pendoylan.

When did William Crawshay II die?

William Crawshay II died on 4 August 1867 in Caversham Park.

What was William Crawshay II's occupation?

William Crawshay II was a metallurgist and ironmaster.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Crawshay II

· Wikidata: Q8007280

· DBpedia: William Crawshay II

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Crawshay II. https://biography.guide/william-crawshay-ii/

MLA: "William Crawshay II." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-crawshay-ii/.

Chicago: "William Crawshay II." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-crawshay-ii/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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