Robert Owen (8 August 1799 – 25 November 1878)was a politician, solicitor and judge in colonial New South Wales; a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, and later, the New South Wales Legislative Council.[1]
Owen was born in Tynemouth, England, and was articled to a solicitor in 1813. On 20 April 1820, he was admitted as a solicitor in England. Owen purchased a small schooner and sailed to Australia.[1] Owen was the Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council in the a member of the New South Wales solicitors firm Carr, Rogers, and Owen.[2]
Owen was elected to the seat of East Camden in the Legislative Assembly at the election on 22 January 1858.[3] He held this position until 3 March 1859,[1] when seat was declared vacant on his acceptance of an appointment as a judge of the District Court,[4] filling the position created by the resignation of John Hargrave. Hargrave in turn replaced Owen as the member for East Camden at the resulting by-election.[5] Owen served on the district court until 30 June 1861.
On 8 December 1868, Owen was appointed to the Legislative Council, a position he held until his death on 25 November 1878.[1] Owen was the Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council in the second Robertson and fifth Cowper ministries.[6]