Introduction
Thomas Close FSA (12 February 1796 — 25 January 1881) was an English antiquarian and archaeologist.
Biography
Thomas Close was born in Manchester on 12 February 1796, to John Close, a merchant of the city, and his wife, Mary.
Close was a keen antiquarian and archeologist, engaging mostly in heraldic or genealogical research. Close created several illuminated pedigrees of royal and noble families, including some elaborate ones of the Tattershall and Wake families. He authored a work on the ancient religious foundation, St Mary's Church, Nottingham, entitled St. Mary's Church, Nottingham: Its Probable Architect and Benefactors: With Remarks on the Heraldic Window Described by Thoroton (Nottingham, 1866). A manuscript of an unpublished work on Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, is now held at the National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum.
Close was the member of several societies. On 10 May 1855, he was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He was a founder and original member of the London-based, Whig gentleman's club, the Reform Club, in 1836, and was the Grand Master of the Masonic province of Nottingham. Close was also a chevalier of the honorary Order of Leopold in Belgium, alongside several other foreign orders. Close was vice-president of his local Nottingham British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1866.
Close's wife died on 22 January 1881, and, three days later, on 25 January, Close died at his home in St James's Street, Nottingham. Close left less than £60,000 in his will.