Elizabeth Fry

Francisca de Haan (Central European University)
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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

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 19 March 2024.]

5919 Elizabeth Fry 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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