Elizabeth ( Betsy ) Fry ( 21 May 1780 -- 12 October 1845 ) , `` née '' Gurney , was an English prison reformer , social reformer and , as a Quaker , a Christian philanthropist .
Elizabeth `` Betsy '' Fry ( 21 May 1780 -- 12 October 1845 ) , `` née '' Gurney , was an English prison reformer and social reformer . She was also a Quaker and a Christian philanthropist .