Profile Major Works Resources

Robert Owen, 1771-1858.

Portrait of Robert Owen

British industrialist and pioneer of utopian socialism.

A "doer" more than a "talker", utopian socialist Robert Owen founded the famous New Lanark Mills in Scotland as an example of the viability of co-operative factory communities. Many industrialists actually visited these "model factories" and some even adopted parts of Owen's system. Owen attempted to extend these into agriculture - advocating collective farming, as in New Harmony, Indiana. Although most of these efforts failed, he continued on his social work - becoming the head of one of the largest trade union federations in Britain in 1843.

 

  


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Major works of Robert Owen

  • Observations on the Cotton Trade of Great Britain, and on the late duties on the importation of cotton wool, 1803 [1858 ed., App. E]
  • A Statement Regarding the New Lanark Establishment, 1812
  • "Essays on the Formation of Human Character", 1812, reprinted as  A New View of Society, or, essays on the formation of human character preparatory to the development of a plan for gradually ameliorating the condition of mankind, 1813-14 [1813: ess.1, ess.2, 1814, ess.3 ess..4];  [1817 3rd ed] [McM, mrx]
  • "Observations on the Cotton Trade, with a view to the intended application to parliament for a repeal of the duties on the importation of cotton wool, 1815, Glasgow Chronicle, (Jan) [1858 ed, App F]
  • "Mr. Owen's Bill for Regulating the Hours of Work in Mills and Factories, as originally proposed in 1815, and finally spoilt with observations of opponents, and the act passed in 1819", 1815 (June) [1858, App. G]
  • "Evidence on New Lanark", Parliamentary Papers, 1815
  • Observations on the Effect of the Manufacturing System, with hints for the improvement of those parts of it which are most injurious to health and morals., 1815 [1818 ed] [1858 ed. App H]
  • An Address delivered to the inhabitants of New Lanark, on the first of January, 1816, at the opening of the institution established for the formation of character, 1816 [1817 3rd ed; 1841 repr]
  • Report to the Committee of the Association for the Relief of the Manufacturing and Labouring Poor, laid before the Committee of the House of Commons on the Poor Laws, 1817 (Mar) [1818 repr] [1858 App I]
  • "A Further Development of the plan contained in the Report to the Committee of the Association for the Relief of the Manufacturing and Labouring Poor, with answers to objections" (letter on July 25, 1817) [1858 App I.2]
  • "A Sketch of some of the errors and evils arising from the past and present state of society, with an explanation of the peculiar advantages to be derived from the arrangement of the unemployed working classes into 'Agricultural and manufacturing villages of unity and mutual cooperation', limited to a population of from 500 to 1,500 persons" (letter of August 7, 1817) [1858 App I.3]
  • "Address delivered at the City of London Tavern, on Thursday, August 14th", 1817 [1858  App. I.4]
  • Peace on Earth - Good Will Towards Men: Development of the Plan for the Relief of the Poor, and the emancipation of Mankind, 1817 [bk]
  • Two Memorials on Behalf of the Working Classes: The first presented to the governments of Europe and America, the second to the Allied Powers assembled in Congress at Aix-la-Chapelle, 1818 [bk]
  • Report to the County of Lanark, of a plan for relieving public distress, and removing discontent, by giving permanent productive employment, to the poor and working classes, under arrangements which will essentially improve their character, and ameliorate their condition; diminish the expenses of production and consumption, and create markets co-extensive with production, 1821 [bk]
  • Report of the Proceedings at the Several Public Meetings, held in Dublin, 1823 [bk]
  • The Evidences of Christianity; a debate between Robert Owen, of New Lanark Scotland, and Alexander Campbell, president of Benthany Coll., VA., containing an examination of the "Social System," and all the systems of skepticism of ancient and modern times, held in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, in April 1829, [1852 ed]
  • The Addresses of Robert Owen (as published in the London Journals), preparatory to the development of a practical plan for the relief of all classes, without injury to any, 1830 [bk]
  • Lectures on an Entire New State of Society; comprehending an analysis of British Society, relative to the production and distribution of wealth, the formation of character; and government, domestic and foreign, 1830 [bk] [1836 ed]
  • The Book of the New Moral World: Containing the Rational System of Society, Founded on Demonstrable Facts, Developing the Constitution and Laws of Human Nature and of Society, 1840 [bk]
  • Outline of the Rational System of Society, founded on demonstrable facts, developing the first principles of the science of human nature: being the only effectual remedy for the evils experienced by the population of the world; the gradual adoption of which would tranquilize the present agitated state of society, and relieve it from moral and physical evils, by removing the causes which produce them. 1841 [bk]
  • What is Socialism?: And what Would be Its Practical Effects Upon Society?, a correct report of the public discussion between Robert Owen & Mr. John Brindley, held in Bristol, on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of January, 1841, with the preliminary correspondence between Mr. Owen and Mr. Brindley's Committee, and an appendix, containing a distinct declaration of principles, 1841 [bk]
  • Lectures on the Rational System of Society, derived solely from nature and experience, as propounded by Robert Owen, versus Socialism, derived from misrepresentation, as explained by the Lord Bishop of Exeter and others; and versus the present system of society, derived from the inexperienced and crude notions of our ancestors, as it now exists in all the opposing, artificial and most injurious divisions in all civilized nations, but more especially in the British empire and the United States of North America.1841  [bk]
  • A Lecture Delivered in the Mechanics' Institute, London, on the 30th March, 1840, by Robert Owen, in reply to the errors and misrepresentations made on the subject of the Rational System of Society, in both Houses of Parliament, by the London City Mission, by a large Portion of the daily and weekly press, and in the sermons and lectures delivered and published by the clergy and ministers throughout the kingdom,  1841 [1841 2nd ed]
  • Manifesto of Robert Owen: Addressed to All Governments and People who Desire to Become Civilized, and to Improve Permanently the Condition of All Classes in All Countries, [ 1840 ed, 1841 ed, 1844 ed]
  • The Revolution in the Mind and Practice of the Human Race; the coming change from irrationality to rationality, 1849 [bk]
  • Letters to the Human Race on the Coming Universal Revolution, 1850 [bk]
  • The Life of Robert Owen Written by Himself, with selections from his writings and correspondence, 1857-58 v.1, v.1.A (App), 

 


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Resources on Robert Owen

Contemporary

  • "Review of the New View of Society", 1813, The Philanthropist, p.93
  • "Mr Owen's plans for relieving the national distress", 1819, Edinburgh Review, (v.32, Oct), p.453
  • The New Views of Mr. Owen of Lanark, Impartially Examined, as rational means of ultimately promoting the productive industry, comfort, moral improvement, and happiness of the labouring classes of society, and of the poor; and of training up children in the way in which they should go; also observations on the New Lanark school and on the systems of education of Mr Owen, of the Rev. Dr. Bell, and that of the new British and foreign system of mutual instruction., by Henry Grey Macnab, 1819 [bk, bk]
  • "Mr. Owen's New Views of Society", 1821, AntiJacobin Review, p.130
  • "Socialisties Moderne - Robert Owen" by Louis Reybaud 1838, Revue des Deux Mondes, p.5

19th C.

  • "Robert Owen", by Harriet Martineau, Biographical Sketches, 1869
  • Robert Owen, the founder of socialism in England by Arthur J. Booth, 1869 [bk]
  • Threading My Way by Robert Dale Owen (Robert Owen's son), 1874 [bk]
  • "Owen and the Christian Socialists", by E.R.A. Seligman, 1886, PSQ, (Jun), p.206 [js]
  • "Owen, Robert"  in C. Coquelin and G.U. Guillaumin, editors, 1852, Dictionnaire de l'économie politique [1864 ed.]
  • "Owen, Robert" in L. Say and J. Chailley-Bert, editors, 1892, Nouveau Dictionnaire de l'économie politique
  • "Owen, Robert" in R.H. Inglis Palgrave, editor, 1894-1901 Dictionary of Political Economy [1901 ed.]
  • "Owen, Robert"  in Leslie Stephen & Stephen Lee, editor, 1885-901 Dictionary of National Biography [1908-09 ed]
  • Robert Owen, a biography, by Frank Podmore, 1906, v.1, v.2
  • Robert Owen, pioneer of social reforms, by J. Clayton, 1908 [bk]

Modern

 
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