The primary source for Robert Owen’s life is his autobiography (vols. 1 and 1A), which was published in 1857. It takes his life up to around 1823, before he left for New Harmony. Owen died in 1858, and there is no volume 2. However, documents which Owen collected for volume 2 survive, in the form of the Robert Owen Correspondence, held by the Co-operative College.

Owen’s prose can be heavy going, and he tends to repeats himself. But he has a good tale to tell, and the key events he tells well. As a service to readers whose time is limited, we present a condensed version of Owen’s Life, in Owen’s words and mostly in his word order. (Approximately 90% has been cut. Quotations should be checked from the original.)

Explore the Robert Owen Writings page.

We also present three essays written for the 200th anniversary of Robert Owen’s birth in 1971, and now out of print. Dr John Butt writes on Robert Owen and Trade Unionism; Mr William P Watkins on Robert Owen and the Co-operative Movement; and Professor John Harrison on Robert Owen and the Communities.
(The original four essays were republished with permission by the Museum in 1983.)

Further Reading

Frank Podmore: Robert Owen: a biography; London, 1906

G.D.H. Cole: Robert Owen; London, 1925

Margaret Cole: Robert Owen of New Lanark; London, 1953

J.F.C. Harrison: Robert Owen and the Owenites in Britain and America;London, 1969

John Butt (ed): Robert Owen, Prince of Cotton Spinners; David & Charles, 1971

Pollard & Salter (ed): Robert Owen – Prophet of the Poor; Macmillan, 1971.

Ian Donnachie: Robert Owen – Social Visionary; John Donald, 2005. (First published: Tuckwell Press, 2000.)