Matthew Brady

Matthew Brady (1799 – 4 May 1826) was a notorious bushranger in Van Diemen's Land (now known as Tasmania) in the early 19th century. he was sometimes known as the "Gentleman Bushranger" due to his good treatment and fine manners when robbing his victims. Matthew Brady, but whose proper name was Bready, was born at Manchester, just about the close of 18th century. His occupation in England was that of a gentleman's servant, probably a groom, as he was an excellent and even a graceful rider, and perfect in his horsemanship. He was tried at Lancaster, on the 17 April 1820, and received a seven-year sentence of transportation, and arrived in Australia in the convict ship Juliana, on the 29 December 1820. He rebelled against the conditions in Sydney and was sent to the notorious penal settlement at Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbor.

Although classified as an incorrigible and dangerous criminal, in 1824 he escaped from Sarah Island with 13 others, and went on a crime spree at various homesteads and villages throughout Tasmania.

Brady considered himself a gentleman, who never robbed or insulted women. The military considered him a dangerous bushranger. After Brady's gang held up Sorell and captured the local garrison (in which the garrison commander, Lieut. William Gunn was shot in the arm, which was subsequently amputated), Lieut. Governor Arthur posted rewards for the capture of Brady and his gang.

In return, Brady posted a reward of "Twenty gallons of rum" to any person who would deliver Governor Arthur to him.

After 21 months free in Van Diemen's Land, Brady and his gang captured a boat, intending to sail it to the Australian mainland. Due to bad weather crossing Bass Strait, they were forced to turn back.

Eventually, one of his gang members, an ex-convict name Cowan, betrayed him for a pardon. Brady escaped the ensuing gun battle with serious injuries, but was captured soon after by the famous bounty hunter John Batman.

Brady was hanged on 4 May 1826, at the old Hobart gaol. Four other bushrangers were hanged with him, including Thomas Jeffries the cannibal. Brady complained bitterly at being hanged alongside Jeffries, who was, as Brady pointed out, an informer as well as a cannibal and mass murderer. Brady's cell had been filled with flowers from the ladies of Hobart Town, which tends to support his claim to be a "Gentleman Bushranger".

Summary

Matthew Brady was born on January 15, 1823. He was a notorious bushranger (a runaway convict with good survival skills often hiding as a refuge, they also often have robbed banks or coach services) Brady in particular was known as the Gentlemen Bushranger, he was called this because he was very kind and gentlemanly using very good treatment when robbing his target person/bank/coach services, etc.… He was also a very good horse rider (which probably helped in his getaways). Even though people, and police especially have classified him as a dangerous criminal, in 1824 he escaped from Sarah Island along with 13 others, and went on a crime spree in numerous homesteads and villages within Tasmania. Brady considered himself a fine person who would never rob or insult women either, though the military thought of him as a very dangerous bushranger. He was later betrayed by one of his own gang members and then later again captured and hanged by a very famous bounty hunter named John Batman. source; wikipedia