16 Facts About Holbrook Gaskell

Holbrook Gaskell was a British industrialist, and an art and plant collector.

Holbrook Gaskell was the eldest son of Roger Gaskell, a sailcloth manufacturer, from his marriage to his cousin Anne Hunter.

Holbrook Gaskell was baptised at the Paradise Street Unitarian Chapel in Liverpool.

Holbrook Gaskell was educated privately at a school in Norton near Sheffield and then in 1827 he worked as an apprentice clerk in the firm of Yates, Cox and Co, who were iron merchants and nail makers in Liverpool.

Holbrook Gaskell was to take charge of the counting-house department, and conduct such part of the correspondence as did not require any special knowledge of mechanical engineering.

Holbrook Gaskell married Frances Ann Bellhouse in 1841, who was the daughter of Henry Bellhouse of Manchester and niece of David Bellhouse, the Manchester builder Nasmyth and Holbrook Gaskell had contracted during the initial building of the Patricroft site.

Holbrook Gaskell then embarked in an extensive soda manufactory, in conjunction with one of our pupils, whose taste for chemistry was more attractive to him than engine-making.

In 1860 when the governments of Britain and France formed a treaty to raise duties on materials made from salt, Holbrook Gaskell went with Edmund Knowles Muspratt to Paris to negotiate terms for the manufacturers.

Holbrook Gaskell remained a director of the company until 1890 when it became part of the United Alkali Company.

Holbrook Gaskell became vice-president and later president of that company.

Holbrook Gaskell served as a magistrate in Widnes, was an active liberal and a member of the Liverpool Reform Club, supporting causes including the extension of the franchise.

Holbrook Gaskell endowed a chair of botany and provided chemistry laboratories at University College, Liverpool.

Holbrook Gaskell paid for public baths in Widnes and supported convalescent homes in Heswall and Southport.

Holbrook Gaskell was involved with the Liverpool Daily and Weekly Post and Echo and when this amalgamated with the Liverpool Mercury in 1904 he became its chairman.

Holbrook Gaskell owned a fine art collection which included works by Turner and Constable which was loaned to the Walker Art Gallery in 1885.

Holbrook Gaskell was buried in the churchyard of Cairo Street chapel, Warrington.