Charles Howarth

Charles Howarth (9 February 1814 – 25 June 1868) was a British cotton-worker, co-operator, Owenite, and co-founder of the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers. Howarth also played a key role in the establishment of the North of England Co-operative Wholesale Society.

On 11 August 1844 Howarth was appointed as one of the three trustees of a new co-op, the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, who opened a shop at 31 Toad Lane. Howarth was also primarily responsible for drafting the society's rules. He drew on the model rules presented at the 1832 Co-operative Congress and the rules of the Rational Association Sick and Burial Society of Manchester.

Death Set of postage stamps of Howarth issued by Venezuela in 1944. Howarth ceased working as a warper in the mid-1860s before dying on 25 June 1868, aged 54, at home in Heywood and was buried in Heywood Cemetery. His death was attributed to asthma. He was survived by his wife and five of his nine children.

In 1944 Venezuela issued a set of postage stamps of Howarth to commemorate the centenary of the establishment of the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers.