Humphrey Mackworth
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Humphrey Mackworth | |
---|---|
Born | January 1657 Bretton Grange, Shropshire, England |
Died | 25 August 1727 |
Nationality | English |
Education | Magdalen College, Oxford |
Occupation(s) | M.P., industrialist, lawyer |
Spouse | Mary Evans of Neath |
Children | Herbert Mackworth |
Parent(s) | Thomas and Ann Mackworth |
Sir Humphrey Mackworth (Jan 1657–1727) was a British industrialist and politician. He was involved in a business scandal in the early 18th century and was a founding member of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.[1]
Early history
Mackworth was born in
As an industrialist
In 1686, Mackworth married Mary Evans of Neath and he moved to Wales soon after. Mary was the daughter of Sir Herbert Evans of Gnoll in Neath and she became the sole beneficiary of Sir Herbert's estate after the death of her sisters. The Evans family had, for the last two generations, controlled the leases that allowed virtually sole-control of coal mining rights in Neath. The coal from the area had been used for smelting and Mackworth became interested in working with copper and lead, and may have begun copper smelting 1695 at Melincryddan. In 1696, Mary died, leaving Mackworth as the inheritor of the estate, and by 1698 he had branched into controlling interests in Cardiganshire.
Earlier, in 1690, rich mineral deposits had been discovered in the Gogerddan estate, whose lease was controlled by Sir Carbery Pryce, whose company developed the site. With the dissolution of the Society of Mines Royal, also in 1690, this estate became very important, and Mackworth acquired Pryce's interest after his death in 1694.
Mackworth redeveloped the enterprise and in 1704, his Company of Mine Adventures was given its charter. This led Mackworth to begin smelting copper at Melincryddan in Neath, but found himself in direct competition with Sir Edward Mansel, who owned coal mining in the neighbouring areas. Mackworth employed the use of wooden waggonways to transport coal from his mines on the Gnoll estate to the wharf at Neath and to supply his copperworks at Melincryddan. The latter involved the innovative use of sails to take advantage of the wind to propel the waggons.[3]
In 1709, the Company of Mine Adventures became bankrupt, and it was discovered that the financing of the company had been undertaken outside normal legal means.[2]
A committee of the House of Commons investigated the matter in 1710 and levelled at Mackworth charges of fraud. No charges were brought after the Whig government fell from power, and Mackworth set up a new company in 1713, the Company of Mineral Manufacturers. This ceased operations in 1719.[2]
As a member of parliament
Mackworth stood in several elections and was successful in four, his affiliations were towards the
Mackworth's eldest son, Herbert Mackworth, also entered politics and held the Cardiff seat between the years 1739–1766. Herbert's son, Sir Humphrey's grandson, was Sir Herbert Mackworth who held the same Cardiff seat after his father until 1790.
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
In 1699, Mackworth was among a group of layman who helped Dr.
Sources
- Biography of Humphrey Mackworth The National Library of Wales
References
- ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
- ^ a b c Williams, David. "MACKWORTH, Sir HUMPHREY (1657-1727), industrialist and parliamentarian". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. The National Library of Wales. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ Trott, C.D.J. "Coal-mining in the Borough of Neath", Morgannwg transactions of the Local History Society, Vol. 13 (1969), pp. 47-74.