John Russell (c.1788 – 1 March 1873)[note 1] was a British coal and iron master, who had extensive industrial interests especially in the South Wales valleys in the mid-nineteenth century.
In 1836, John Russell and Co. bought Waunfawr Colliery near Risca with a site of 1,000 acres (400 ha), and in 1841 had a new mineshaft, known as Black Vein, sunk there.
Many of his interests in South Wales were developed in partnership with George Randle Hookey of Ludlow (1808–1877), who in 1840 married Russell's daughter Susannah.
George Hookey gave evidence to the commissioners enquiring into the employment of children in mines, saying:[4]"In working the narrow seams we are compelled to use the labour of children as men are too large for the work, and, from the necessity of the case, boys from 11–15 years of age are employed to draw with the girdle and chain; distances not exceeding 300 yards, the weight drawn from 50 lb to 1 cwt.
[1][2] It was said that Russell's collieries in South Wales were so prone to accidents that he had to bring workers in from Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
[1][2] Russell also had business interests in iron workings in the Forest of Dean, and in the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company.
Having leased the neighbouring estate of Piercefield Park for several years Russell bought it 1855, but later sold it in 1866 to set up a trust for the families of the miners killed in the 1860 disaster at Blackvein and returned to Terhill.