Sebastian Gahagan

Sebastian Gahagan (1779 – 2 March 1838) was a sculptor of Irish descent active in London. His most notable works are the monument to Sir Thomas Picton in St Paul's Cathedral, and a statue of the Duke of Kent in Park Crescent, Portland Place. He was also employed by Joseph Nollekens, carrying out the carving of many of his major works.

Life Gahagan was born in Westminster in 1779, the son of the Irish-born sculptor Lawrence Gahagan; his brothers were Charles (born c.1765), Lucius (1773-1855) and Vincent (1776-1832). He is said to have been born in Dublin, although his father seems to have settled London about 20 years before his birth.

In London he became an assistant to Joseph Nollekens, carrying out the carving of many of his major works, including the statue of William Pitt for the Senate House at Cambridge (1809), At the time of his death he is described as "of Euston-square". The monument to Sir Thomas Picton in St. Paul's Cathedral, an elaborate composition, commissioned in 1816 Gahagan also produced several busts of Picton, one of which he exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1818. Hutton said of it:My friends tell me it is like me, but that it is too grave for me, though gravity is a part of my character. For the likeness and expression I cannot myself be the judge; but I can vouch for the accuracy, for I have measured it in every point with the callipers. A bronze statue of the Duke of Kent in Park Crescent, Portland Place. Installed in January 1824, the statue, high, represents the duke in his Field Marshal's uniform, over which he wears his ducal dress and the regalia of the Order of the Garter. A statue of George IV for the Royal Exchange, commissioned in 1831. now in the collection of the Museum of London, although some sources attribute these to his father, Lawrence.

Death Gahagan died, aged 60, in 1838 and was buried in the parish of St Pancras, then in Middlesex, on 7 March of that year. Several other members of his family, apart from his father and brothers became sculptors and modellers; they included his nephew Lucius Gahagan, and his niece, Sarah.