Abram Combe (15 January 1785 – 11 August 1827) was a British utopian socialist, an associate of Robert Owen and a major figure in the early co-operative movement, leading one of the earliest Owenite communities, at Orbiston, Scotland.
He attended Edinburgh High School but, unlike his brothers George and Andrew, he preferred practical pursuits to academic ones and became apprenticed to a local tanner.
Owen had scandalised large sections of society by attacking all forms of organised religion and was widely believed to be an atheist and infidel.
He referred to these beliefs as "Divine Revelation", which he explained as "the facts and truths which the Great Governing Power of the Universe reveals to the senses and understanding".
In the early days, Combe and Hamilton were assisted by George Mudie, who had founded the Owenite community at Spa Fields.
In order to chronicle the progress of the community he edited a weekly newspaper, The Register for the First Society of Adherents to Divine Revelation at Orbiston.
In spite of Combe's protestations of religious orthodoxy, the community was viewed with suspicion by local church ministers and their congregations.
The situation was not helped by the unruly behaviour of the building workers, Orbiston became known locally as "Babylon" and some newsagents refused to stock The Register.
[9] Nevertheless, the community continued to grow and by the summer of 1826 it consisted of around 250 members, while its commercial activities included an iron foundry, a printing press, a dairy, a grain mill and several building trades.
He gave advice through letters to The Register, but played no part in its day-to-day activities and was unable to resolve the various internal disputes which were dividing the community.