Matthew Brady
Encyclopedia
Matthew Brady was a notorious bushranger
in Van Diemen's Land
(now known as Tasmania
) in the early 19th century. Born from two immigrants from Ireland, he was sometimes known as the "Gentleman Bushranger" due to his good treatment and fine manners when robbing his victims.
Originally a corporal in a British regiment, he was a cultured and educated man. Sentenced to death for forgery, his sentence was commuted to transportation to the Penal Colony of New South Wales
. 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 Mark Jefferies
the cannibal. Brady complained bitterly at being hanged alongside 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".
Bushranger
Bushrangers, or bush rangers, originally referred to runaway convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who had the survival skills necessary to use the Australian bush as a refuge to hide from the authorities...
in Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
(now known as Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
) in the early 19th century. Born from two immigrants from Ireland, he was sometimes known as the "Gentleman Bushranger" due to his good treatment and fine manners when robbing his victims.
Originally a corporal in a British regiment, he was a cultured and educated man. Sentenced to death for forgery, his sentence was commuted to transportation to the Penal Colony of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. He rebelled against the conditions in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and was sent to the notorious penal settlement at Sarah Island
Macquarie Harbour Penal Station
The Macquarie Harbour Penal Station was a notorious British penal settlement established on Sarah Island in the southern portion of Macquarie Harbour in what was Van Diemen's Land in , Australia....
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
Sorell, Tasmania
Sorell is a town in Tasmania, Australia, north-east of Hobart. It is on the Tasman Highway which continues up the east coast of Tasmania. At the 2006 census, Sorell had a population of 1,546....
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
George Arthur
Lieutenant-General Sir George Arthur, 1st Baronet KCH PC was Lieutenant Governor of British Honduras , Van Diemen's Land and Upper Canada . He also served as Governor of Bombay .-Early life:George Arthur was born in Plymouth, England...
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
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
, Brady and his gang captured a boat, intending to sail it to the Australian mainland. Due to bad weather crossing Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
, 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
John Batman
John Batman was an Australian grazier, businessman and explorer who is best known for his role in the founding of a settlement which became Melbourne and the colony of Victoria.-Life:...
.
Brady was hanged on 4 May 1826, at the old Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
gaol. Four other bushrangers were hanged with him, including Mark Jefferies
Mark Jefferies
Mark Jefferies was a bushranger, serial killer and cannibal in the early 19th century in Van Diemen's Land . Jefferies was transported as a convict from Scotland, and had there been granted a reprieve from death as he was willing to act as an executioner and scourger...
the cannibal. Brady complained bitterly at being hanged alongside 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".