Sir Peter Nicol Russell (4 July 1816 – 10 July 1905), commonly referred to as P. N. Russell, was an Australian foundry owner, manufacturing engineer, and benefactor of the University of Sydney. Russell worked at iron foundries owned by his family in Scotland and Tasmania before starting a foundry and engineering works with his brothers on the banks of the Tank Stream in 1838 in the town of Sydney. Four years later, in 1842, Russell split from his brothers' business and founded his own operations where he remained for the next 13 years. In 1855 he reunited with his brothers, forming P. N. Russell & Company, which became the largest steelworks in Australia at the time. Russell returned to London in 1860 to retire and remained attached to the business by acting as its London representative. F