William Cooper (co-operator) (original) (raw)

William Cooper (1822 – 31 October 1868) was an English co-operator, Owenite, and a founding member of the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers. Cooper played a leading role in promoting the success of the Rochdale Pioneers through written correspondence, speeches, and newspaper pieces. He believed the co-operative movement should extend beyond retail trade and he played a role in establishing the Rochdale District Co-operative Corn Mill Society in 1850, the Rochdale Co-operative Manufacturing Society in 1854, the North of England Co-operative Wholesale Society in 1863, and the Co-operative Insurance Society in 1867.