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Elizabeth Fry

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Advocate

The Resume

    (May 21, 1780-October 12, 1845)
    Born in Norwich, England, United Kingdom
    Birth name was Elizabeth Gurney
    Philanthropist and prison reform advocate
    Founded the British Ladies' Society for Promoting the Reformation of Female Prisoners
    First woman to testify before Parliament (1818)
    Depicted on the British five pound note (2002)

Why she might be annoying:

    She was born into privilege, with both parents coming from banking families.
    In her 30s, she wrote, 'I fear my life is slipping away to little purpose.'
    She was unsuccessful in her campaign to abolish capital punishment.
    She got to testify before Parliament partly because her brother-in-law was an MP.
    Critics said she was neglecting her duties as a wife and mother to campaign for prison reform.

Why she might not be annoying:

    When she was 12, her mother died and she became responsible for caring for and teaching her younger siblings.
    Her daughter Betsy died at age five.
    She was an early advocate of using prison for rehabilitation rather than vengeance.
    She also founded shelters for the homeless and a nursing school that inspired Florence Nightingale.
    Queen Victoria was an admirer and contributed money to her causes.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 20 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 107 Votes: 37.38% Annoying