The great mining engineer was born at Kyo near Tanfield, where his father was the village schoolmaster. When the Wallsend colliery was projected in 1781, the elder Buddle was chosen as manager and 'viewer'. On the death of his father in 1806, John Buddle took over and soon began to make his mark. In 1809 he introduced an improved method of coal extraction which enabled all the coal in a seam to be exhausted, instead of leaving some to act as support for the roof of the mine. He was also much concerned with improving mine safety. After the 1813 Felling disaster, Buddle responded to public concern with a paper describing the ventilation methods he had adopted, and the problems of lighting underground. This led ultimately to the safety-lamps of George Stephenson, Joseph Clanny and Sir Humphry Davy. Buddle himself took an active part in assisting Davy's experiments and later helped to establish the Mining Records Office.
Buddle took a keen interest in founding schools in the colliery villages and was involved in the construction of Seaham Harbour for the Marquess of Londonderry. Gradually he attained to almost autocratic eminence, as his popular nickname 'King of the Coal Trade' confirms. He advocated standing firm against Thomas Hepburn (q.v.) and his union in the great struggle of 1831-32. Nevertheless Buddle remained on affectionate terms with the mining folk about him, using Tyneside speech with wit and vigour. On a larger stage, Buddle read his paper 'A Synopsis of the Newcastle Coalfield' before the British Society, meeting in Newcastle in 1838.