John Kewley

John Kewley (1832 – 2 February 1905) was Captain of the Great Snaefell Mine, Isle of Man. He is remembered for his heroism following the Snaefell Mine Disaster of 1897, during which he displayed extraordinary courage and endurance and for which he received the Medal of the Honourable Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. Biography John Kewley was born on the Isle of Man in 1832 and following his education, he became a mine engineer. He took employment with the Great Snaefell Mining Company progressing to become manager of the mine, referred to as the Mine Captain. Snaefell Mine Disaster By 1897 the Snaefell mine had become increasingly difficult to work as a consequence of insufficient ventilation (the lowest depth of the mine shaft by this time being at 171 fathoms. This ongoing problem had become increasingly acute as the various levels were driven further from the main shaft.