Social Reformer. She received recognition in the 19th century for supporting prison reform in England. Born one of twelve children of a wealthy Quaker banker and wool merchant, Elizabeth Gurney married Joseph Fry, a tea dealer and a fellow member of the Society of Friends. The couple had eight children. On February 13, 1813, she and Anna Buxton visited Newgate Prison in London, and were so horrified by the dehumanized conditions of foul odors, rat infestation, and total absence of any comfort, thus Fry devoted the rest of her life to prison reform. They made three visits to the women prisoners documenting that these women had no facilities for personal hygiene, slept on wood planks, were in poor health, and in need of food and warm clothing. Many of the women had their children with them in prison. Several had given birth to babies, which were wrapped in dirty rags. The prisoners respected Fry and she was never harmed during her visits. Not only did she provide for the children, Fry started a school for them. Called the "angel of the prisons," she visited prisons throughout England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the rest of Europe. Many of her written inspection reports, which suggested that the sexes should be segregated; female prisoners should have female guards; that prisoners should be given useful work to do; and that they should receive instruction in matters both religious and secular, were adopted in her lifetime. By 1817 she had formed a committee called the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and received monetary support for her endeavors while her brother-in-laws pushed legislative corrections. Besides prisons, she helped to reform conditions in British hospitals and the treatment of mental inpatients in asylums. She kept a detailed diary of her visits, which has become documentation of the prisons during this era. A British Blue Historical Plaque was placed on the home, in which she resided from 1800 to 1809. On May 21, 2002, the anniversary of her birth, her portrait was used on the new issue of the five pound British note. Although Quakers do not have funeral services, over one thousand people attended her burial, which was held at North Street in Barking, Essex. The Meeting House, opposite the burial ground, is now in the 21st century a Sikh Temple, and the burial ground was purchased by Barking Council. Although Elizabeth Fry's remains are still buried at her original grave site, her headstone was moved to the Quaker Cemetery in Bush Road, Wanstead. A 19th century engraving of Fry and Burton surrounded by the women prisoners was made by an unknown artist and showing "By kind words and firm manner the two brave women at last succeeded in getting some kind of order in the crowd, and then Anna Buxton fell on her knees, and offered up prayer for the prisoners." Directions to her marker: it is on the left hand side, in the rear row, six stones along. The inscription is extremely difficult to read, but reads: "Joseph Fry, died 1861, aged 84. Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Fry, died 1845, aged 65."