Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Mossop, William Stephen
MOSSOP, WILLIAM STEPHEN (1788–1827), medallist, born in Dublin in 1788, was the son of William Mossop [q. v.], medallist. He was educated at the academy of Samuel White in Dublin, and in 1802 entered the Art Schools of the Royal Dublin Society under Francis West, the master of the figure school, who also gave him instruction privately. His first medal, that of the Incorporated Society for Charter Schools, was made when he was about seventeen. In 1806 he made a medal for the Farming Society of Ireland, and in 1810 one to commemorate the fiftieth year of George III's reign. In 1813 he received the premium of the Society of Arts for the die of a school medal, and in 1814 gained its premium for a medal bearing the head of Vulcan. About 1820 he contemplated a series of forty portrait-medals of distinguished Irishmen. He completed the medal of Grattan, and nearly finished those of Ussher, Charlemont, Swift, and Sheridan. The dies of these were left unhardened, but were afterwards annealed by Mr. J. Woodhouse of Dublin, into whose possession they came. Mossop followed the method adopted by his father in designing the model for his steel dies. He used a preparation of beeswax melted and softened with turpentine, and coloured white or brown. 'He spread this tempered wax upon a piece of glass or slate, adding and working in successive portions until the design was completed.' Several of Mossop's wax models are in the possession of Dr. Frazer of Dublin, and some of his steel dies became the property of the Royal Irish Academy and of Mr. J. Woodhouse. Some designs cast in plaster also became the property of Mr. Woodhouse. In addition to his work on medals Mossop was engaged in preparing the seals of various public bodies, including the Waterford chamber of commerce, Cork Institution (1807), County of Sligo Infirmary (1813), Irish treasury, Deny corporation, Prussian consulate, and Waterford harbour commission. He also made a series of dies for the stamp office, Dublin. Mossop was secretary to the Royal Hibernian Academy from its foundation till his death, which took place in the early part of 1827, after an attack of mental aberration. Mossop wrote a short account of his father and himself, which was printed in Gilbert's 'History of Dublin,' ii. 121, ff. and Appendix. The following is a selection from Mossop's medals: Incorporated Society for Charter Schools in Ireland (unsigned); Farming Society of Ireland (signed w. s. Mossop); George III's Jubilee; Kildare Farming Society, 1813; Centenary of House of Hanover, 1814; Daniel O'Connell, 1816 (the first medallic portrait of O'Connell); Feinaglian Institution; Cork Institution, 1817; North of Ireland Society; Dublin Society medal; Sir Charles Gieseckë; Colonel Talbot; Grattan (the head on this medal was copied by the French artist, Galle; Frazer, p. 326, citing T. Moore's Diary}; Archbishop Ussher; Dean Swift; R. B. Sheridan; Lord Charlemont; Visit of George IV to Ireland. The medals are usually signed Mossop.
[Frazer's Medallists of Ireland.]