Joseph Ady or Adey (c. 1770–1852) was an English impostor. He was at one time a hatter in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, but failing in that business he hit upon the device of raising funds by means of circular letters, promising, on the receipt of a suitable fee, to inform those whom he addressed of ‘something to their advantage.’ In numerous instances he evaded the law and baffled the magistrates and Post Office authorities. For some months prior to his death in 1852, he was removed from prison to his brother's residence in

Fenchurch Street Fenchurch Street is a street in London, England, linking Aldgate at its eastern end with Lombard Street and Gracechurch Street in the west. It is a well-known thoroughfare in the City of London financial district and is the site of many cor ...

, in consequence of a rapid decline of health, a memorial to that effect having been presented to the home secretary.

References

* English criminals British milliners 1770s births 1852 deaths {{UK-crime-bio-stub