Matthew Brady was transported in 1820 for stealing. He was sent to Macquarie Harbour for committing a crime in New South Swales and in 1824 led a party of fourteen convicts in a daring escape. The gang grew to twenty-five and soon became known and feared by settlers. Brady himself claimed to be a gentleman bushranger who was polite to women and did not kill unless threatened. Between 1825 and 1826 more than a hundred bushrangers were hanged in Tasmania while the police searched for Matthew Brady. Finally Brady surrendered in 1826 to John Batman, who later became one of the founders of Melbourne. Matthew Brady was hanged in May 1826.