Robert Owen (14 May 1771, Newtown, Powys – 17 November 1858) was a Welsh utopian socialist and social reformer. He is considered the father of the cooperative movement. Owen's socialist philosophyspiritualism towards the end of his life (O'Hara, 2006, p.75).] His third pillar said that he disliked the factory system, and supported the cottage system.