Matthew Brady (1799 – 4 May 1826) was an English-born convict who became a bushranger in Van Diemen's Land (modern-day Tasmania). He was sometimes known as "Gentleman Brady" due to his good treatment and fine manners when robbing his victims.

Brady, whose proper name was Bready, was born in Manchester at 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.^{[citation needed]}

Brady was convicted of stealing a basket, some butter, bacon, sugar, and rice — or perhaps forgery — and tried at Lancaster on 17 April 1820. He received a seven-year sentence of transportation, arriving in Australia in the convict ship Juliana on 29 December 1820.

He rebelled against the conditions in Sydney and received, over time, a total of 450 lashes between 1821 and 1826 in punishment for misdemeanours and attempts to escape. In 1823, he was sent to the new penal settlement at Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbor, which had been established 'for secondary offenders and desperate prisoners'.

On 7 June 1824, Brady was part of a group of fifteen escapees from Sarah Island who sailed a whaleboat around the south coast to the River Derwent and spent the next two years as bushrangers.

Brady was considered a gentleman who rarely robbed or insulted women. The military considered him a dangerous bushranger after Brady's gang held up the township of Sorell and captured the local garrison (in which the garrison commander, Lieut. William Gunn was shot in the arm, which was subsequently amputated).

On 14 April 1825 Lieut. Governor George Arthur advertised a proclamation detailing rewards for the capture of Brady and his gang of 100 Guineas or 300 acres of free hold land, plus a free pardon for any convict assisting their capture.

In return, Brady posted his own reward stating: