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abolition of slavery and is said also to have introduced the use of copper bolts to fix the copper sheeting to naval vessels and it would appear that he sold them to all sides in the naval conflicts. When he died in 1802, 1,200 people were employed in his Parys and Mona mines, but five years later the number had dropped to 120. This owing partly to the collapse of copper prices, but also to the exhaustion of the known local copper deposits – but no doubt largely resulting from the death of the firm's great driving force.
185:, called Williams the "copper king" – "the despotick sovereign of the copper trade". To his friend and agent he said, "Let me advise you to be extremely cautious in your dealings with Williams". He spoke of Williams as "a perfect tyrant and not over tenacious of his word and will screw damned hard when he has got anybody in his vice". Of the
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284:. Likewise the Mona mine (adjoining Parys) output was smelted by the Stanley Company in both Lancashire and South Wales. Other Companies dealt with manufacture at Greenfield near Flint and in the Thames Valley, Chemical Works (vitriol) at Garston Liverpool and still others with warehousing and banking.
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He also acted quickly to absorb or control other producers – notably the
Cornish mines to produce a complete response to the cartel. Although always the driving force, Williams built up and controlled a major commercial organisation and surrounded himself with able staff. The Revd Edward was always a
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Williams emerged from the dispute as the managing partner with the Revd Edward Hughes and John Dawes in the Parys Mine
Company. This under Williams control was cheap to run and extremely productive. His great problem was to obtain an attractive price for the copper. He faced a cartel of copper
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and sold. The proceeds were then used to purchase commodities for import into
Britain. Williams claimed to have invested £70,000 in this trade and petitioned parliament in 1788 when a bill was being discussed to prevent British ships from carrying slaves. Williams actively fought against the
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His business organisation was first rate. He developed the technique of establishing his various businesses in separate companies. Thus the Parys Mine
Company controlled its own smelting in South Wales, Lancashire and copper manufacture at
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smelters whose aim was to buy cheap and sell dear. He moved decisively to establish his own smelting facilities and quickly entered into an agreement with John Mackay to establish an industrial complex at
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in
Lancashire. He also established warehousing and copper manufacturing and finishing facilities, and even a mint – thus creating a vertical organisation. In 1788, Williams purchased the Temple Mills at
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acting for opposing sides and was not finally settled until 1778. In that year Sir
Nicholas leased his own copper mine to a London banker John Dawes (a secret associate of Williams) for 21 years.
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in
Berkshire. He built himself a fine mansion there called Temple House and used the mills for smelting copper brought from his Welsh mines. He became MP for the nearby town of
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146:(13 May 1737 – 30 November 1802) was a Welsh industrialist and Member of Parliament. At the time of his death, he was the richest man in Wales.
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copper mine. This dispute, which ran for over nine years, involved the interpretation of that very unsatisfactory testamentary device called a
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producers, Boulton said "they would not have submitted to be kicked and piss'd on by me as they have been by them" (Williams and his partner
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In the 18th century, there was a significant shortage of food for labouring people. Williams, known to his Welsh speaking workmen as
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Williams married around 1763 Catherine Lloyd, daughter of John Lloyd of
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sleeping partner but younger brother
Michael Hughes was an able manager. Other partners and staff included The
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where he made copper and brass products. Many of these materials were for use in the
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Williams' tenacity as a lawyer was very evident when acting for the Hughes family of
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intended for his cattle and used them to feed their families. His business rival,
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368:"WILLIAMS, Thomas (1737-1802), of Llanidan, Anglesey and Temple House, Berks"
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Members of the
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Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies
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The Copper King: A biography of Thomas Williams of Llanidan
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