CLOSE, THOMAS (1796–1881), antiquary, was born in 1796. He engaged in archaeological researches, and paid special attention to genealogy and heraldry. In several peerage cases he gave important evidence, especially in that of the Shrewsbury and Talbot succession. He published in 1866 ‘St. Mary's Church, Nottingham; its probable Architect and Benefactors. With remarks on the Heraldic Window described by Thoroton,’ Nottingham, 1866, 12mo. Close was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a chevalier of the order of Leopold in Belgium, and of other foreign orders. He was also grand master of the masonic province of Nottingham, and one of the founders and original members of the Reform Club. He died at Nottingham on 25 Jan. 1881, three days after the death of his wife.
[Obituary notice in the Times, 31 Jan. 1881, p. 6.]