John Buddle

Born in County Durham, Buddle became the underviewer to his father, at Wallsend Colliery. In 1801 he was appointed viewer of Benwell Colliery, soon buying a share in the mine. He succeeded his father as manager at Wallsend Colliery in 1806. By his early 30s he was well established in his career, working as a consultant viewer at various collieries on Tyneside, mostly where he also had some financial interest.

Buddle was concerned about safety in mines and devised improved methods of ventilation as well as being a member of committees of enquiry and an expert witness giving evidence to Government investigations. He was involved with the design, testing and promotion of the miners safety lamp invented by Humphry Davy in 1815.

In 1819 until his death Buddle was General Manager to Lord Londonderry, the prominent coal owner in County Durham. They had planned to develop a port at Seaham.

He had consultancy work in mining in other parts of Britain and overseas, such as in Portugal and South America. Apart from mining activities he advised on Blyth Harbour improvements, Warkworth Harbour, a projected Thames tunnel and the design of an iron steamship. He owned ships and land as well as collieries and invested in banks, docks and railways.

Away from work Buddle was an active member of the professional and land-owning class of Newcastle and its neighbourhood and played an important part in local societies and functions, including as a magistrate.

Buddle died unmarried at his home in Wallsend in 1843. He left a personal fortune of around £150,000 (£10-15 million in modern money). His funeral procession was over a mile long and took over three hours to travel from his home in Wallsend to his resting place in St James Church, Benwell, Newcastle.