Elizabeth Fry

Francisca de Haan (Central European University)

Ed. by Jacqueline Eales, Canterbury Christ Church University
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.06: English Writing and Culture of the Romantic Period, 1789-1837.
Vol. editors: Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Daniel Robinson (Widener University), Emily Rohrbach (University of Durham)

Domains

Penal institutions and policies

Dates

Born 21 May 1780
Died 1845
Activity 1800-1845

Places

Born in England
Active in England

Activities

Primary

Reformer

Resources

Fry's Works

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I found [when visiting Newgate prison] that the ladies ruled by the law of kindness, written in their hearts, and displayed in their actions. [The prisoners] had steeled their minds against the terrors of punishment, but they were melted at the warning voice of those who felt for their sorrows, while they gently reproved their misdeeds [. . .]. (Buxton, 1818, 150)

The Quaker Elizabeth Fry was one of the most influential prison reformers of the nineteenth century, with a special focus on the treatment of female prisoners. She is still regarded as an inspiring example today, as for example the name of the Canadian “Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies” demonstrates. In addition to working for female prisoners and in 1821 establishing what appears to have been the first nationwide

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2956 words

Citation: de Haan, Francisca. "Elizabeth Fry". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 26 April 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5919, accessed 24 November 2024.]

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