The Titan · Character

Patrick Gilgan

Irish ward boss and alderman whose grip on Chicago's river wards makes him a useful ally and a dangerous enemy to any financier seeking political cover.

supporting

Also known as Mr. Patrick Gilgan, Patrick Gilgan, Mr. Gilgan, Gilgan, Patrick, Pat

First appearance: iv peter laughlin co

As a supporting figure in The Titan, Patrick Gilgan is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A powerful South Side politician and state senator, recruited by Hand to lead a Republican campaign to defeat the McKenty-Cowperwood Democratic machine.

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Gilgan belongs to the gritty machine politics of South Clark Street, where saloons, gambling dens, and a pliable city council form the real government of the wards. He has spent years beating back the McKenty opposition in his district, and he knows exactly how much a man like Cowperwood needs friends who can deliver votes. His value lies in that transactional loyalty: he can open doors for the rising financier, but he also keeps a ledger of favors owed, and the story's middle stretch turns on whether such a man can be kept bought.

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See Patrick Gilgan in iv peter laughlin co

Character Web

32 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Cowperwood's Inner Circle
Extended Social and Business Network
Political Allies and Adversaries
Artistic and Social Connections

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

In this passage, the narrative reaches its emotional and psychological peak by elevating Frank Cowperwood to t…

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In the story

Patrick Gilgan appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Enter Hosmer Hand
A powerful South Side politician and state senator, recruited by Hand to lead a Republican campaign to defeat the McKenty-Cowperwood Democratic machine.
A Political Agreement
Proposes a political deal to Kerrigan, offering money and power-sharing in exchange for switching wards to the Republican side.
A Political Agreement
Describes the Republican strategy to win the city council and oust McKenty and Cowperwood from power.
A Political Agreement
Argues for the feasibility of the plan, citing financial backing from La Salle Street and a detailed ward-by-ward analysis.
A Political Agreement
Insists on his trustworthiness and offers to put the agreement in writing.
An Election Draws Near
Secretly meets with Tiernan, Kerrigan, and Edstrom to plan a division of political spoils.
An Hour of Defeat
Cowperwood meets with him to seek his allegiance; Gilgan is noncommittal, feeling caught between Cowperwood and the reformers.
The New Administration
Discusses with Hosmer Hand the difficulty of controlling aldermen and the political situation regarding Cowperwood.

Chapter companion notes

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See Patrick Gilgan in iv peter laughlin co

See Patrick Gilgan in Enter Hosmer Hand