John Corbett (industrialist)

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For other persons named John Corbett, see John Corbett (disambiguation).

John Corbett (bapt. June 29, 1817 - April 22, 1901) was an English industrialist and philanthropist, particularly associated with salt mining in Droitwich, Worcestershire.

Born Brierley Hill, his father, Joseph Corbett, ran a canal transport business there. John joined the family business but by 1850 canals were facing increasing competition from the railways. Corbett sold his share of the business and, in 1853, purchased disused salt workings in Stoke Prior from the British Alkali Company. Corbett brought all the innovations of the industrial revolution to mechanise and commercialise the business and built a great fortune.

In 1888, he sold the business to the Salt Union Ltd for GBP 660,000. He spent much of the proceeds in philanthropic work and on the construction of an imposing house in the style of a French chateau, the Chateau Impney.