John Buddle

John Buddle (1773–1843) was an English mining engineer often known as the 'King of the Coal Trade'. As viewer of the Wallsend Colliery he was a leading authority on Tyneside mining and the inventor of the Buddle ventilation system, the keystone of safe deep mining in the Great Northern Coalfield. With the consulting engineer William Chapman he was responsible for the Steam Elephant of about 1815, one of the earliest twin-cylinder locomotives, built for the Wallsend Waggonway.

Born at Kyo Hall, County Durham on 15 September 1773, Buddle was the son of a mining viewer and succeeded his father in the role at Wallsend. His advice was sought by collieries across northern England and Scotland. He died at Wallsend on 10 October 1843.