Pavel Andreyevich Bashenin was born into the family of Andrei Anisimovich Bashenin, a third guild merchant and timber industrialist. He studied at the Alekseev Real School and, along with his younger brother Pyotr, learned the timber industry from the renowned 'Cherdyn merchants.' Later, Pavel became his father's partner and accompanied him on business trips to various cities. According to contemporaries, he significantly surpassed his father in trading skills.

After his father's death, his mother continued the entrepreneurial activities, becoming an independent first guild merchant. After her passing, Pavel Andreyevich became an independent first guild merchant, while his brother Pyotr Andreyevich entered the second merchant guild.

In 1899, Pavel Andreyevich married Lyudmila Nikolaevna, who, like many merchant wives, was a member of the Sarapul Charity Society. His business was thriving, and his sawmill in Berdyshevsk of the Okhansky district of the Perm province was mentioned in the collection 'All Russia.'

From 1904 to 1909, Pavel Andreyevich Bashenin served as the head of the city of Sarapul, elected almost unanimously. In this position, he actively engaged in the improvement and development of the city.

Pavel Andreyevich donated funds to educational institutions, such as the Alekseev Real School, as well as to charitable performances and Christmas trees.

In 1909, the Sarapul City Duma decided on universal education, which required suitable premises. Bashenin invested his funds in the construction of new stone buildings adapted for the educational process.

He was also a member of the public library committee, chairman of the board of trustees of the women's gymnasium, a trustee of the free hospital named after Ustin Savvovich Kurbatov, and served as a justice of the peace. Pavel Andreyevich was the oldest member of the Sarapul trotting society.

He had many ideas for the city's development. In a New Year's wish published in the newspaper 'Prikamskaya Zhizn' in 1910, he expressed his desire to honorably complete two enterprises and start a new one: to build a theater, a people's university, and other facilities.

On March 4, 1910, Pavel Andreyevich Bashenin suddenly passed away from a hemorrhage. On the day of his funeral, the street in front of his house was filled with people. The solemn requiem took place at the Ascension Cathedral, where the service was conducted by Bishop Ambrosy Gudko of Sarapul and 19 priests with deacons. Pavel Andreyevich's funeral became a public procession. The local newspaper wrote that no resident of Sarapul evoked as much regret and sorrow as Pavel Andreyevich Bashenin, who held the first place among his fellow citizens and surpassed them in generosity, diligence, and service to the common good.

Pavel Andreyevich's body was laid to rest in the family crypt near the Resurrection Church.