Owen Roberts (educator)

Sir Owen John Roberts, JP, DL, DCL, LL.D (7 April 1835 – 6 January 1915) was a Welsh educationalist, who helped to pioneer technical education in London.

Owen was appointed a director of the Improved Industrial Dwellings Association in London, and worked for many years in the Imperial Fire and Life Insurance Office.

In 1870 the Gladstonian Education Act instructed the companies to organize greater facility for women and working-classes to expand the technical abilities.

[a] In 1895, although no longer honorary secretary of the Higher Education Association, he still managed to persuade the Clothworkers Hall to donate £250 towards the founding of the London School of Economics, for which the Webbs were eternally grateful.

Through his considerable gifts of zeal and commitment, Welsh lyricism he made it easier to determine how the extension of opportunity might be funded for the development of workers' education.

[8] The Edwardian era was one of immense political and social change during which Sir Owen was chairman of a number of City of London institutions.

[10] The great scientist, Lord Kelvin "looked back with gratitude at all the many works he had done for good of the country," praising a man dedicated to the arts and education all his life, and in particular to its expansion.

It coincided with a New Liberal government eager to extend radical schemes, yet was utterly consistent with Sir Owen's generosity, fervour and drive to idealise education for all.