In the pageboy of 19th - century history , there is a lesser - know name synonymous with justice and transformative change . Elizabeth Fry emerged as a beacon light of hope during an era marked by societal challenges . Her devoted study in reform prisonsearned her the nicknamethe “ Angel of Prisons , ” as well as a last humanitarian legacy .
Advocating For Change in Newgate Prison
Fry ( néeGurney ) was born on May 21 , 1780 , in Gurney Court , Norwich , into anotable Quaker class . Her father , John Gurney , cultivate at Gurney ’s Bank , and her mother , Catherine , was also involve in the family business . Fry was the kinsfolk ’s third daughter and received a good education — something that was uncommon for girls in those days . She hook up with Joseph Fry , a fellow Quaker , in August of 1800 .
Fry first became concerned in prison reform after hearing an American Quaker named William Saveryspeak about the poor and needy ; his words inspired her to take an interest in the want of others .
In 1813 , she was invite to visit Newgate Prison , where she was appal by the condition she witness . “ All I tell thee is a faint movie of reality ; the filth , the meanness of the rooms , the furious manner and expressions of the women towards each other , and the abandoned wickedness , which everything bespoke are really indescribable,”she wroteof the experience .
After see char and children awfully overcrowded in Newgate Prison , Fryreturnedwith affectionate clothes and wheat to facilitate improve the comfort of those who were jail . She again noticed how poorly the people in the prison were cover . They were need to buy everything they needed — including food , drinks , and even ember for warmth — from the prison house warden . There was limited imbibing water and no proper toilette . Fry was also introduced to the inequity of the justice system : a poor child might be sent overseas to prison house for stealing a loaf of bread of bread , while a plenteous mortal would only be required to pay a mulct .
In 1817 , Fry found the Association for enhance the Well - being of Female Prisoners in Newgate to proffer education , clothing , and religious direction to the incarcerated women . She also bulge out a schoolhouse for the children who had been imprison with their mothers and campaigned for prisons to house remand people based on the specific nature of their law-breaking as an effort to make the justice system more fairish .
Elizabeth Fry’s Lasting Legacy
Fry ’s work quickly became known to the rest of the United Kingdom and beyond . Shetraveled extensivelyto inspect prison and write reports , contributing to the enhancement of prison conditions throughout Europe . She was even admire byQueen VictoriaandFlorence Nightingalefor the compassionate way she exerted feminine influence beyond the nursing home .
Fry speak to Parliament about prison conditions and necessary reform in 1818 . This meeting , and her study up until this point , play a significant role in influencing theGaol Act , exceed in 1823 . It worked toward creating a fair and more humane prison system of rules by mandating prisons separate immure people by sex and utilise distaff guards for cleaning woman — something Fry hadpreviously agitate for .
She also played a crucial role in make condition considerably on ship carrying remand people to penal colony in Australia . Over 25 years , she visitedcountless tape drive shipsto utter with those who were imprisoned and visit the conditions of their environment .
But Fry did n’t just focus on prison reform . Her sympathetic endeavors and dedication to philanthropic gift covered a wide range of a function of societal government issue . Fry worked to better the British infirmary system and advocated for improved handling of the mentally ill . She also promoted raise nursing measure , providing education for working women , improving housing for the poor , and campaigned to abolish slavery . More than 1000 hoi polloi attended her burial after she died of a stroke on October 12 , 1845 .
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