Robert Owen was a Welsh social reformer and one of the founders of the cooperative movement. Born in 1771, he believed in improving the lives of workers through better living and working conditions. Owen established several successful communities, most notably New Lanark in Scotland, where he implemented progressive ideas like education for children and fair wages. Owen's vision extended beyond individual communities; he advocated for social change on a larger scale. He promoted the idea of cooperative societies, where people could work together for mutual benefit. His efforts laid the groundwork for future movements focused on social justice and workers' rights.