Lewis Fry
Encyclopedia
Lewis Fry DL
, (16 April 1832– 10 September 1921) was a Quaker, lawyer
, philanthropist and a Liberal
and later Liberal and Unionist
politician who sat in the House of Commons in three spells between 1878 and 1900.
business.. He was articled to a Quaker Solicitor, Joseph Bevan Braithwaite, who had also trained his elder bother, Edward Fry
. He was admitted in 1854 and practiced in Bristol until he entered Parliament .
Member of Parliament
(MP) for Bristol
between 1878 and 1885, and a Liberal and Unionist
for Bristol North
between 1885–1892 and 1895–1900.
He was sworn a member of the Privy Council
after the accession of King Edward VII on 24 January 1901 and was appointed a deputy lieutenant
of Gloucestershire
shortly thereafter.
He was Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Town Holdings
, 1886–1892 and author of two reports of same .
When School Boards
were introduced, Lewis Fry was elected the first Chair of the Bristol School Board . He drew up an influential scheme for religious education in elementary schools .
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
.
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.
One of his chief pleasures in life was his interest in art. He was himself and amateur painter .
in Clifton. It is now a Hall of Residence of the University. He died shortly after celebrating his 89th Birthday .
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 .
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, (16 April 1832– 10 September 1921) was a Quaker, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, philanthropist and a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
and later Liberal and Unionist
Liberal Unionist Party
The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
politician who sat in the House of Commons in three spells between 1878 and 1900.
Early life
Fry was the son of Joseph Fry (1795–1879) and his wife Mary Anne Swaine (1897-1896) and was a member of the Fry family known for their chocolateChocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
business.. He was articled to a Quaker Solicitor, Joseph Bevan Braithwaite, who had also trained his elder bother, Edward Fry
Edward Fry
Sir Edward Fry GCB, GCMG, PC, FRS , was a judge in the British Court of Appeal and also an arbitrator on the International Permanent Court of Arbitration. He was a Quaker, son of Joseph Fry and Mary Ann Swaine....
. He was admitted in 1854 and practiced in Bristol until he entered Parliament .
Parliamentary service
Fry was LiberalLiberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Bristol
Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol was a two member constituency, used to elect members to the House of Commons in the Parliaments of England , Great Britain and the United Kingdom . The constituency existed until Bristol was divided into single member constituencies in 1885.-Boundaries:The historic port city of Bristol, is...
between 1878 and 1885, and a Liberal and Unionist
Liberal Unionist Party
The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
for Bristol North
Bristol North (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol North was a borough constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election.- Members of Parliament :...
between 1885–1892 and 1895–1900.
He was sworn a member of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
after the accession of King Edward VII on 24 January 1901 and was appointed a deputy lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
shortly thereafter.
He was Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Town Holdings
Town Holdings Committee
The Select Committee of Parliament on Town Holdings ran for nearly six years, finally reporting in 1892. Its chair was Lewis Fry, a solicitor and town councillor from Bristol....
, 1886–1892 and author of two reports of same .
Other public service
Fry served on Bristol Town Council from 1866 to 1884When School Boards
School board (England & Wales)
School boards were public bodies in England and Wales between 1870 and 1902, which established and administered elementary schools.School boards were created in boroughs and parishes under the Elementary Education Act 1870 following campaigning by George Dixon, Joseph Chamberlain and the National...
were introduced, Lewis Fry was elected the first Chair of the Bristol School Board . He drew up an influential scheme for religious education in elementary schools .
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
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
and was President of the High School for Girls .
He served on the Council of the Law Society
Law society
A Law Society in current and former Commonwealth jurisdictions was historically an association of solicitors with a regulatory role that included the right to supervise the training, qualifications and conduct of lawyers/solicitors...
.
Fry is considered to be an important figure in the creation and early development of the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
. He was the first chairman of the Council of the University of Bristol. An annual public lecture at the University is his memorial.
One of his chief pleasures in life was his interest in art. He was himself and amateur painter .
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 . She died in 1870.Death
He lived at Goldney HallGoldney Hall
Goldney Hall also known as Goldney House is a self-catered hall of residence in Clifton, Bristol, one of three in the area providing accommodation for students at the University of Bristol.-House:...
in Clifton. It is now a Hall of Residence of the University. He died shortly after celebrating his 89th Birthday .
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 .