Joseph Ady

{{Short description|English criminal}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

Joseph Ady or Adey (c. 1770–1852) was an English impostor.

He was at one time a hatter in London, 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.’{{cite book |last1=Hendy |first1=John |title=The history of the postmarks of the British Isles from 1840 to 1876, compiled chiefly from official records |date=1909 |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924030133536/page/n45/mode/2up |page =38|access-date=30 December 2022}} In numerous instances he evaded the law and baffled the magistrates and Post Office authorities.{{cite book |last1=Hill |first1=Rowland |title=The Life of Sir Rowland Hill...and the History of Penny Postage, volume II |date=1880 |location=London |pages=82–83 |url=https://archive.org/details/lifeofsirrowland02hilliala/page/82/mode/2up |access-date=30 December 2022}}

For some months prior to his death in 1852, he was removed from prison to his brother's residence in Fenchurch Street, in consequence of a rapid decline of health, a memorial to that effect having been presented to the home secretary.