Frederick William Rhodes was born in Armley, Leeds, Yorkshire, England in 1859 and was articled to Daniel Dodgson in Leeds. He also attended Leeds School of Art. He commenced practice as an architect in Leeds in 1880.
By the early 1930s he was in partnership with his son as F.W. Rhodes & Son. He was a Member of the Society of Architects and was admitted a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1925. His address was given as Roseleigh, Hill End, Armley, Leeds in 1911 and 1914; and 131, Upper Wortley Road, Leeds in 1914 and 1934. He died on 4 January 1937. At the time of his death his address was given as 23 Hill End, Armsley, Leeds.
His principal work included factories mills, warehouses, schools, picture theatres, and [by 1914] over 2,500 houses.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001