May

1771

Born in Newtown on 14th May, over his father’s saddler’s shop.

Life 1

June

1781

Apprenticed to James McGuffog, Stamford draper – for 4 years

Life 12, RMP166

Sept

1785

Draper’s assistant, Flint & Palmer, London Bridge.

Life 18

July

1786

Draper’s assistant, St Anne’s Square, Manchester.

Life 20

Jan

1791

With Jones, making spinning mules in Dolefield, Manchester.

Chal 80

Aug

1791

Alone, with spinning business in Ancoats Lane, Manchester.

Chal 81

May

1792

Manager of Bank Top Mill, Piccadilly, Manchester.

Chal 82

Nov

1793

Elected to Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.

Pod 58

1794/5

Managing partner, Chorlton Mills, Manchester.

Chal 98-99

July

1799

Partnership buys New Lanark from David Dale.

HNL 62

Sept

1799

Married Caroline Dale. They have 4 sons and 3 daughters.

Life 54

Jan

1800

Manager of New Lanark, improves workers’ conditions and surroundings.

Life 56

1806

Paid full wages during stoppage, gaining workers’ support.

Life 63, HNL 72

Late

1809

Formed new partnership after dispute over new schools.

Life 85, HNL 77

June

1812

Resigned as Manager after dispute over new schools.

HNL 79

1813-14

Published ‘A New View of Society’, urging universal education.

Dec

1813

With new partners, bought back New Lanark, Manager again.

Pod 99

Mar

1815

Drafted Factory Bill, Sir Robert Peel promoting it in Parliament.

Pod 185,190,192

Jan

1816

Opened Institution for the Formation of Character with infant school.

Life 85

Mar

1817

Put forward Plan for Villages for Poor and Unemployed.

Pod 217 etc

Aug

1817

Urged Villages of Co-operation for all classes.

Pod 245 etc

1821

Published ‘Report to the County of Lanark’, detailing communities.

Apr

1825

Bought New Harmony, Indiana, for community experiment.

1825-32

Over 400 co-operative societies, inspired by Owen’s writings.

1828

Returned to Britain after Community failed, cut New Lanark links.

1832-34

Conducted ‘The Crisis’ – Owenite journal.

1832

Opened National Equitable Labour Exchange – for exchange of goods.

1834

Headed Grand National Consolidated Trades Union – first mass union.

1834

After collapse of Union, formed Socialist society – the Owenites.

1834-46

Conducted ‘The New Moral World’ – Owenite weekly.

1839

Owenites establish Queenwood Community, Stockbridge, Hants.

1845

Community fails, Owen continues his mission on his own.

1844

Formation of Rochdale Pioneers – start of Co-operative Movement.

1857

Published ‘The Life of Robert Owen’.

Nov

1858

Returned to Newtown, and died on 17th November.