Gaskell, William |
| CLERGYMAN, CHARITY WORKER, EDUCATIONALIST, AUTHOR (ENGLAND) |
|
BORN 24 Jul 1805, Latchford, Cheshire - DIED 12 Jun 1884, Manchester CAUSE OF DEATH bronchitis GRAVE LOCATION Knutsford, Cheshire: Brook Street Unitarian Chapel |
|
William Gaskell came from a family of prominent Dissenters in Latchford, Warrington. His father William Gaskell was a sailcloth manufacturer. He studied at Glasgow University and graduated in 1825. At Manchester New College in York, he was educated for the Unitarian Ministry. He became assistant minister of Cross Street Chapel in 1828 and from 1854 he was senior minister. In 1832 he married Elizabeth Clegron Stevenson, the daughter of the minister William Stevenson. They had four daughters. Over the years they were often apart when William was away, but their marriage lasted. He encouraged Elizabeth to write her first novel in 1845, and she became a famous novelist. William Gaskell saw his poem "Sketches among the Poor, No. 1" published in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine in 1837. "Temperance Rhymes" was published in 1839. He was well known as a teacher and a lecturer, and he participated in numerous charitable efforts. After New College moved to Manchester in 1840, he taught there as was Professor of history, English literature, and logic from 1846 to 1853. He co-founded the Unitarian Home Missionary Board with John Beard in 1854. Many of his sermons and hymns were published. Elizabeth suddenly died in 1865, and Gaskell lived for almost another twenty years. He worked until six months before his death, assisted by his two unmarried daughters. After his death in 1884, 18-year old Beatrix Potter, the granddaughter of his friend Edmund Potter, wrote "If ever anyone led a blameless peaceful life, it was he". He was buried with Elizabeth in Knutsford. Family • Daughter: Gaskell, Florence Elizabeth • Wife: Gaskell, Elizabeth (1832-1865, Knutsford, Cheshire: Knutsford Parish Church) Related persons • was painted by Swynnerton, Annie Louisa |
| Images |
 The grave of Elizabeth Gaskell at the graveyard of Brook Street Chapel, Knutsford. Picture by Androom (09 Nov 2016) |
Sources • https://cairo-street-chapel.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/website/William-Gaskell-1805-–-1884.pdf • William Gaskell - Wikipedia (EN) |
