John Owens (1790–1846), English merchant, was born in Manchester, England in 1790, the son of a prosperous merchant. Early in life he became a partner in his father's business and was soon noted for his ability as a cotton buyer. His business prospered, and the firm traded with China, India, South America and the United States, dealing in many other commodities. His large fortune he suggested leaving to his friend and partner George Faulkner (1790-1860), already a rich man. But by the latter's advice he bequeathed it to trustees for the foundation of a college (Owens College, Manchester, opened 1851, now part of the University of Manchester), based upon his own ideas of education. He died in Manchester on the 29th of July 1846. His bequests to friends and charities amounted to some 52,000, while for the college he left 96,654. Among the conditions for its foundation the most important was that which discountenanced any sort of religious test for students or teachers. 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the city in England. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The University of Manchester in Manchester, England is a university that was formed from the merger of the Victoria University of Manchester (commonly known as the University of Manchester before the merger) and UMIST (University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology) on 1 October 2004. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, a publication in the public domain.

John Owens Community Supporters contend that the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1910-1911) represents the sum of human knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century; indeed, it was advertised as such. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...