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For the Irish-American photographer, see Mathew Brady.

Matthew Brady was a notorious bushranger in Van Diemen's Land (now known as Tasmania) in the early 1800's.

Originally a corporal in a British Regiment, he was a cultured and educated man. Sentenced to death for forgery, his sentence was commutted to transportation to the Penal Colony of New South Wales. He rebelled against the conditions in Sydney and was sent to "Hell's Gates", now known as Macquarie Harbor in Tasmania. Classified as an incorrigable and dangerous crimainal, he led a successful escape of a dozen convicts in 1824.

Brady considered himself a gentleman, who never robbed or insulted woman. The Military considered him a dangerous bushrager. After Brady's gang held up Sorrell Town 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.

Subsequently, 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 May 4th, 1826, at the old Hobart Jail. Four other bushrangers were hanged with him, including Mark Jefferies the cannibal. Brady complained bitterly at being hanged alonside Jefferies, 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".

References

• A Pictorial History of Bushrangers, Prior, Wannan and Nunn, 1968, Paul Hamlyn Pty Ltd, Melbourne

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