Robert Owen: The Reformer

At a time when most industrialists considered human beings as little more than fodder for their powerful machinery, Robert Owen thought profit and humanity were compatible. He eliminated child labor, reduced working hours, and made his factories safe, healthy, and clean places to work.

Owen naively believed that when other industrialists heard of his remarkable results at New Lanark, they too would adopt his methods. He called a meeting of fellow manufacturers in Glasgow to explain his results and to seek their support for legislation that would put his principles into practice. His message was met with stunned silence.

Realizing they were not yet ready to accept his reforms, Owen embarked on a campaign to enact legislation that would forever change the way people worked. His efforts met with bitter opposition, and after a long struggle, a much diluted version of his proposal was finally passed in 1819. Not content with these meager results, Owen launched a crusade that would last the rest of his life.