FRY

Elizabeth, philanthropist, the third daughter of John Gurney, of Earlham Hall, near Norwich, was born 1780, died at Ramsgate 1845. In her eighteenth year a sermon preached by William Savery, an American Quaker, at Norwich, had the effect of turning her attention to serious things, and making her adopt decided views on religious matters. About this time also she made the acquaintance of Joseph Fry, a London merchant and a strict Quaker, to whom she was married in 1800. In 1810 she became a preacher among the Friends. Having paid a visit to New gate in 1813, she was so Elizabeth Fry impre ed by the scene of squalor, vice, and misery which she there witne ed, that the amelioration of prison life became with her a fixed object. In 1817 she succeed d in establishing a ladies’ committe for the reformation of women-prisoners in New gate, along with a school and manufactory in the prison, the results of which proved eminently satisfactory. These improvements were shortly afterwards introduced by her means into other prisons. In the pursuit of her philanthropic labours she made tours through various parts of the United Kingdom, and also visited France, Belgium, Germany, and Holland.—Cf. G. King Lewis, Elizabeth Fry.