Elizabeth Gurney was brought up in a wealthy Quaker family. Her marriage in 1800 to Joseph Fry, another member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), took her to London, where her deep religious faith found a practical outlet in a lifelong commitment to helping those most in need of it.

Elizabeth had, 11 children, (5 sons, 6 daughters) but still established a girls’ school at Plashet near East Ham in London. The Quakers recognized her work in 1811 when she was named a “minister”.

In 1813 she became aware of the horrible prison conditions of the time and started welfare work with the women prisoners in Newgate jail. She began daily visits, a program of regular Bible readings and sewing classes, she knew every small thing helps. In 1817 she launched a campaign for prison reform. A year later she gave evidence on prison conditions before a select committee of the House of Commons. Her submission was influential in shaping subsequent legislation, in the UK, and Europe, acknowledging her as a leading promoter of prison reform. Her concern for the welfare of prisoners and her knowledge of the effects of long-term imprisonment led in 1839 to the formation of a society devoted to their care and rehabilitation.

In 1820 Elizabeth became involved in the establishment of a “Nightly Shelter for the Homeless” in London, she was later instrumental in forming societies to help the poor. In 1827, with her brother J.J. Gurney, Elizabeth wrote a report on social conditions in Ireland, where extreme poverty was widespread.

Elizabeth also discovered conditions suffered by those in psychiatric hospitals (described as "snake pits", & "hell on earth") were a serious matter of concern. She did a great deal to bring about improvements in the hospital system, in particular the treatment of the insane.

In 1836 she arranged for the provision of libraries in coastguard stations and in certain naval hospitals.

Throughout her life active evangelization was never separate from social action. But the work which most clearly emphasized her convictions was a devotional book called "Texts for Every Day in the Year". 1st published in 1831. At her passing Seamen of the Ramsgate Coast Guard flew their flag at half mast in respect of Mrs Fry; a practice that until this occasion had been officially reserved for the death of a ruling monarch. More than a thousand people stood in silence during the burial at the Ramsgate memorial. She was depicted on the Bank of England £5 note from 2001–2016 and a statue of her stands in the Old Bailey Court.

BORN: 21 May 1780, Norwich, England

DIED: 12 October 1845, Ramsgate, England