- Lewis Fry
Lewis Fry DL, (
16 April 1832 –10 September 1921 ) was aQuaker ,lawyer , philanthropist and Member of ParliamentFamily background
He was a member of the
Fry family known for theirchocolate business. He was the son of Joseph Fry (1795–1879) and Mary Anne Swaine (1897-1896) ["The Biographical dictionary of British Quakers in commerce and industry, 1775-1920", by Edward H. Milligan, Sessions of York (2007) ISBN 978-1-85702-367-7. p.191: article on Joseph Fry (1795-1879).] .Legal training and practice
He was articled to a Quaker Solicitor,
Joseph Bevan Braithwaite , who had also trained his elder bother,Edward Fry ["The Times" 18 November 1905 pg.9 Col B: Obituary of J.B. Braithwaite. ] . He was admitted in 1854 and practiced in Bristol until he entered Parliament "The Times", 12 September 1921, pg.10, Col. A: "Death of Mr. Lewis Fry".] .Parliamentary service
He was a Liberal (later a Liberal and Unionist) MP for
Bristol (UK Parliament constituency) between 1878 and 1885, and thenBristol North (UK Parliament constituency) between 1885–1892 and 1895–1900.He was sworn a member of the Privy Council after the accession of King
Edward VII on24 January 1901 . [LondonGazette | issue=27272 | startpage=551] .He was Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Town Holdings, 1886-1892 and author of two reports of same [L.Fry entry in "Who was Who"] .
Development of the University of Bristol
Fry is considered to be an important figure in the creation and early development of the
University of Bristol . He was the first chairman of the Council of the University of Bristol. An annual public lecture at the University is his memorial [ [http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cms/go/statutes/general/publiclectures.html http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cms/go/statutes/general/publiclectures.html]Lewis Fry Memorial Lecture: This Lectureship was established in 1924 by the surviving children of the late The Right Hon. Lewis Fry, P.C., first Chairman of the University Council. The endowment provides for an annual lecture to be given by a scholar of distinction on subjects connected with the Fine Arts, History, Literature, Music, Drama, Philosophy, Theology or Education.
] .Other public service
He served on Bristol Town Council from 1866 to 1884
When School Boards were introduced, Lewis Fry was elected the first Chair of the Bristol School Board ["The Times", Tuesday, 31 January 31, 1871; pg. 4; Issue 26974; col C: “The Education Act”. - Lewis Fry elected to the Bristol School Board.] . He drew up an influential scheme for religious education in elementary schools [DQB: 'Dictionary of Quaker Biography': Huge typescript resource at the Library of the Religious Society of Friends, Euston, London UK, known as "DQB".] .
He supported a number of Bristol public institutions: the School of Science and Art, the Museum and Library and the Evening Classes Association and the local branch of the
Charities Organization Society .He was on the Council of
Clifton College and was President of the High School for Girls .He served on the Council of the
Law Society .Marriage and family
On
29 September 1858 , he married Elizabeth Pease Gibson, the daughter of Mr. Francis Gibson of Saffron Walden . They had three sons and two daughters ["The Times", Friday, 6 July 1860; pg. 1; Issue 23665; col A: “Births”: Son born 3 July 1860 and "The Times", Wednesday, Oct 31, 1888; pg. 1; Issue 32531; col A: Eldest Son, Lewis George marries.] . [Children, according to DQB:
*Lewis George (b.3 July 1860)
*Elizabeth Wyatt (b.31 July 1861)
*Francis Gibson (b.25 May 1863)
*Millicent Mary (b.20 August 1866)
*Anna Theodora (b.24 August 1870)] She died in 1870.Other interests
One of his chief pleasures in life was his interest in art. He was himself and amateur painter [ [http://www.rwa.org.uk/RWAarchive/dates/lfryd.htm One of Lewis Fry's landscapes, at the Royal West of England Academy.] ] .
Death
He lived at
Goldney Hall in Clifton. It is now a Hall of Residence of the University. He died shortly after celebrating his 89th Birthday ["The Times", Tuesday, 13 September, 1921; pg. 1; Issue 42824; col A "Deaths" and Monday, 12 September 1921; pg. 10; Issue 42823; col A: "Death Of Mr. Lewis Fry. A Veteran Bristolian" and Monday, 9 January, 1922; pg. 13; Issue 42924; col F: "Wills and bequests".] .The Lewis Fry Memorial Lecture was established in 1924 by his surviving children. The endowment provides for an annual lecture to be given by a scholar of distinction on subjects connected with the Fine Arts, History, Literature, Music, Drama, Philosophy, Theology or Education [ [http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cms/go/statutes/general/publiclectures.html University of Bristol information on Public Lectures: Lewis Fry Memorial Lecture.] .
References
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