Seán (John J.) Heuston (1891–1916), was born in Dublin and worked as a clerk with the Great Southern and Western Railway Company. He led the Fianna Éireann contingent that unloaded hundreds of rifles from the Asgard at Howth in July 1914. By Easter 1916 he was a captain in the Irish Volunteers and commanded the garrison of the Mendicity Institute on Usher’s Island, holding out for two days against overwhelming odds until forced to surrender. He was executed on 8 May 1916.
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Seán Heuston's biography is taken from the book 1916 Portraits and Lives published by the Royal Irish Academy. 100 prints of the 42 portraits and 3 scenes from the book, signed and numbered by the artist David Rooney, are available to order while quantities last. The original portraits from the book have been acquired for the State Collection by the OPW and will be on exhibit in 2016 at Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin. Read more 1916 biographies.