John Curr (1756-1823) was a Coal Viewer, or Mining Engineer and Consultant, based in the Sheffield area. He was born in Durham and went to work in the Duke of Norfolk’s Collieries near Sheffield and was eventually appointed Colliery Manager or Viewer of two of the Duke’s mines. Towards the end of the century he devised an improved system for conveying coal through underground working using cast iron plate railways, this underground system went on to be used above ground. He died at Belle Vue in Sheffield on 27 January 1823.