Famous Admirers
prisoners regularly, preaching and praying for them. Soon Elizabeth commenced talks with the authorities to create a school for the children of inmates, which was eventually approved.
In the same year Elizabeth created the Ladies’ Association for the Reformation of the Female Prisoners in Newgate, which provided materials for female prisoners to create clothes to wear and sell.
As the years went on, Elizabeth’s notoriety increased and in doing so she carved out
Gaols Act was passed, which ensured female wardens for female prisoners, and tightened capital punishment rules.
In the years to follow, Elizabeth continued to fight for those less fortunate, touring prisons and hospitals around the world as well as campaigning for the end of slavery and homelessness. Elizabeth continued to lobby for change throughout her life until October 12, 1845 when she passed away, aged 65. Dubbed the “angel of prisons” her legacy lives on to this day.
Elizabeth’s humanitarian work gained her a lot of famous fans. Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel supported her work and in turn passed several acts in parliament that furthered Elizabeth’s cause. She met Queen Victoria multiple times as the monarch admired Elizabeth’s strength. The young royal even donated money to Elizabeth’s cause. The King of Prussia Frederick William IV had met Elizabeth many times on official visits to Great Britain and was so impressed with her work he visited her in Newgate Prison, something unheard of at the time.
Florence Nightingale was inspired by Elizabeth, specifically her commitment to the education of women and better housing for the poor. When Fry opened a training school for nurses this greatly influenced Florence, so much so she took a group of Fry nurses to the Crimean War with her to help wounded soldiers.
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