He was born in Westminster on 26 October 1776 the son of sculptor Lawrence Gahagan and his wife Phoebe Hunter.
He had at least seven siblings most of whom (both male and female) were sculptors, including a younger brother Sebastian Gahagan.
However, the ambassador refused to pay the agreed 800 guineas prize money, saying neither artist was suitable.
[2] Very ironically he was killed on 28 December 1831 in his studio at Pimlico while working on a statue of George Canning which fell and crushed him.
He had a troubled period in early life, losing two wives in quick succession: On 9 January 1803 he married Elizabeth Agnes Kay at St Pancras Church.