Background
Ladegast was born in Hochhermsdorf (now Hermsdorf), Saxony, to a carpenter and cabinet-maker.
Ladegast was born in Hochhermsdorf (now Hermsdorf), Saxony, to a carpenter and cabinet-maker.
He then traveled as a journeyman to various workshops, including those of Johann Gottlob Mende in Leipzig, Urban Kreutzbach in Borna, Adolf Zuberbier in Dessau, Martin Wetzel in Strasbourg, and Aristide Cavaillé-College in Paris. His work with Cavaillé-College was especially influential on his own designs. The two developed a friendship, and Ladegast introduced many technical innovations learned from Cavaillé-College"s workshop to Germany, such as swell pedals and Barker levers.
He set up his own workshop at Weißenfels in 1846, with his first commission being for a small organ in Geusa.
He went on to build over 200 organs, with notable works including the reconstruction of the organ of the Merseburg Cathedral (IV/81, 1855), and building the organ of the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig (IV/84,1859-1862). His largest instrument was for Schwerin Cathedral (IV/84, 1870-1871).