He was the eldest son of Holbrook Gaskell, founder of Gaskell, Deacon & Company and his wife Frances Anne Bellhouse and was born in Patricroft on 7 December 1846. He became a partner in his father"s business, and subsequently became a director when this formed part of the United Alkali Company.
He was educated at Owen"s College, Manchester.
He was also a director of the Liverpool District Lighting Company and the Radpath Brown and Company. Outside of his directorships he served as a Justice of the Peace for the County of Lancashire. In 1879 he was chairman of The Widnes Workman"s Public House Company
Limited., whose establishments provided only non-alcoholic drinks.
He died on 2 July 1919 at his house Erindale in Frodsham, Cheshire.
He was a keen sailor being the Rear-Commodore of the Royal Mersey Yacht Club and a member of the Royal Anglesey Yacht Club.
