Robert Owen (1771-1858)

"What ideas individuals may attach to the term "Millennium" I know not; but I know that society may be formed so as to exist without crime, without poverty, with health greatly improved, with little, if any misery, and with intelligence and happiness increased a hundredfold; and no obstacle whatsoever intervenes at this moment except ignorance to prevent such a state of society from becoming universal".

Owen made this speech when he opened the Institute for the Formation of Character, effectively a community education centre. He outlined his visionary plans for an astonishingly progressive and enlightened system of education which he believed was the key to a happier society, and universal harmony.

Under Owen’s management the cotton mills and village of New Lanark became a model community, in which the drive towards progress and prosperity through new technology of the Industrial Revolution was tempered by a caring and humane regime. New Lanark had the first Infant School, a creche for working mothers, free medical care, and comprehensive education, including evening classes. Leisure and recreation were not forgotten; there were concerts, dancing, music-making and pleasant landscaped areas for the benefit of the community. The village attracted international attention.

Even today New Lanark attracts visitors from all over the world who come to see the historic buildings and to enter the award-winning Visitor Centre (for more info see www.newlanark.org).

While at New Lanark, Robert Owen demonstrated management policies that are now widely recognised as precursors of modern theories relating to human resource management, as well as skilful and ethical business practice. His work inspired infant education, humane working practices, Co-operation, trade unionism, and garden cities. It inspires New Lanark Conservation Trust, the independent Scottish charity which is dedicated to restoring and caring for the historic village of New Lanark in Southern Scotland.

Owen's inspirational and influential ideas are explored in a new film "The Quest for Universal Harmony" which can be shown, on request, in the New Lanark Visitor Centre's state-of-the-art theatre. Highlighting the continuing relevance of Owen's ideas to today's society, the film is suitable for colleges, universities and special interest groups. Since this is not the default programme shown in the theatre, groups interested should make their request whilst booking.

Robert Owen looked forward to the new Millennium with optimism and with confidence. In 1841 he wrote the following words:

"It is therefore, the interest of all, that every one, from birth, should be well educated, physically and mentally, that society may be improved in its character, - that everyone should be beneficially employed, physically and mentally, that the greatest amount of wealth may be created, and knowledge attained, - that everyone should be placed in the midst of those external circumstances that will produce the greatest number of pleasurable sensations, through the longest life, that man may be made truly intelligent, moral and happy, and be thus prepared to enter upon the coming Millennium".

Read extracts from a selection of Robert Owen's writings: