Peter Brian Edwards CD,

CStJ The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (), commonly known as the Order of St John, and also known as St John International, is an order of chivalry constituted in 1888 by royal charter from Queen Victoria and dedica ...

, FRHSC (March 19, 1931 – July 25, 2019) was a

vexillologist Vexillology ( ) is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general.Smith, Whitney. ''Flags Through the Ages and Across the World'' New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975. Print. A person who studi ...

and scholar of flags. He established the ''Canadian Flag Institute'' on October 31, 1978.

Life

Interested in

vexillology Vexillology ( ) is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general.Smith, Whitney. ''Flags Through the Ages and Across the World'' New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975. Print. A person who studi ...

, he was a Member of the

North American Vexillological Association The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) is a membership organization devoted to vexillology, the study of flags. It was founded in 1967 by American vexillologist Whitney Smith, and others. Its membership of 1,100+ comprises flag s ...

and on October 31, 1978, he established the ''Canadian Flag Institute'', renamed Burgee Data Archive (BDA) August 31, 1993. Peter was diligent in researching the often-neglected field of

maritime flag A maritime flag, also called a naval flag, is a flag designated for use on ships, boats, and other watercraft. Naval flags are considered important at sea and the rules and regulations for the flying of flags are strictly enforced. The flag flown ...

s and became the world's top reference in the study of

burgee A burgee is a distinguishing flag A flag is a piece of textile, fabric (most often rectangular) with distinctive colours and design. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to ...

s. The Burgee Data Archive published “The Private Signal”, a periodical vexillological journal, and was accepted as a member of the

International Federation of Vexillological Associations The ; IFoVA (; FIAV) is an international federation of 53 regional, national, and multinational associations and institutions across the globe that study vexillology, which FIAV defines in its constitution as "the creation and development of a ...

in 1997. He was the fourteenth president of the

Royal Heraldry Society of Canada The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada (RHSC; ) is a Canadian organization that promotes interest in heraldry in Canada. It was founded in 1966 and granted royal patronage in 2002. History The society was established in October 1966, as the Hera ...

, from 1988 until 1990. Peter Edwards deposited his and the BDA's collection and library at the Naval Marine Archive in

Picton, Ontario Picton is an unincorporated community located in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Prince Edward County in southeastern Ontario, roughly east of Toronto. It is the county's largest community and former seat located at the southwestern end of Picto ...

before his death in 2019.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Peter 1931 births 2019 deaths York University alumni University of Toronto alumni People from Crosby, Merseyside Vexillologists English emigrants to Canada