John Brooks Close
Encyclopedia
John Brooks Close-Brooks (9 June 1850 – 20 March 1914) was an English banker and amateur rower
who won the Diamond Challenge Sculls
at Henley Royal Regatta
in 1870 and rowed for Cambridge
in the Boat Race in 1871 and 1872.
, Italy, the son of James Close. His father was an adviser to Ferdinand II of Naples
and lived at Antibes
. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he was a proficient rower. In 1870 he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley and also came second in the Silver Goblets with his brother James Brooks Close. John Brooks Close rowed in the winning Cambridge
crew in the 1871 Boat Race and came second in the Silver Goblets with his brother again. In 1872 he was in the winning Cambridge Boat Race crew again, with his brother James in bow.
Close joined the banking firm established by his uncle John Cunliffes Brooks at Manchester
and became a partner in 1888. He also became a director of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
. He assumed the additional surname of Brooks on 14 February 1889. He was a J.P.
and was High Sheriff of Cheshire
in 1911. Close-Brooks lived at Birtles Hall, Chelford
, Cheshire, where he died at the age of 63.
Close's brothers James and William both rowed for Cambridge in the boat race. William Brooks Close
established the firm of Close Brothers.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who won the Diamond Challenge Sculls
Diamond Challenge Sculls
The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
in 1870 and rowed for Cambridge
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
in the Boat Race in 1871 and 1872.
Career
Close-Brooks was born as "Close" at NaplesNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy, the son of James Close. His father was an adviser to Ferdinand II of Naples
Ferdinand II of Naples
Ferdinand II or Ferrante II of Naples , sometimes known as Ferrandino, was King of Naples from 1495 to 1496...
and lived at Antibes
Antibes
Antibes is a resort town in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.It lies on the Mediterranean in the Côte d'Azur, located between Cannes and Nice. The town of Juan-les-Pins is within the commune of Antibes...
. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he was a proficient rower. In 1870 he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley and also came second in the Silver Goblets with his brother James Brooks Close. John Brooks Close rowed in the winning Cambridge
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
crew in the 1871 Boat Race and came second in the Silver Goblets with his brother again. In 1872 he was in the winning Cambridge Boat Race crew again, with his brother James in bow.
Close joined the banking firm established by his uncle John Cunliffes Brooks at Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and became a partner in 1888. He also became a director of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
. He assumed the additional surname of Brooks on 14 February 1889. He was a J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and was High Sheriff of Cheshire
High Sheriff of Cheshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1911. Close-Brooks lived at Birtles Hall, Chelford
Chelford
Chelford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is near to the junction of the A537 and A535 roads, about six miles west of Macclesfield, and six miles south-east of Knutsford. It is served by a small railway...
, Cheshire, where he died at the age of 63.
Close's brothers James and William both rowed for Cambridge in the boat race. William Brooks Close
William Brooks Close
William Brooks Close was the founder of Close Brothers Group, one the United Kingdom's oldest merchant banks.-Career:...
established the firm of Close Brothers.