born Nov. 9, 1801, Glasgow, Scot.
died June 24, 1877, Lake George, N.Y., U.S.
U.S. social reformer.
In 1825 he emigrated with his father, New Harmony Gazette , until 1827, when he became associated with Fanny Wright . The two eventually settled in New York City, where Owen edited the Free Enquirer , and both were active in the Workingmen's Party . Owen returned to New Harmony in 1832. After serving in the Indiana legislature, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (1843–47), where he introduced a bill establishing the Smithsonian Institution . He later served as U.S. minister to Italy (1855–58). A strong advocate of emancipation, he urged an end to slavery in an 1861 letter to {{link=Lincoln, Abraham">Abraham Lincoln that was said to have influenced the president greatly.