William Gordon Perrin
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel
William Gordon Perrin, OBE
(1874–1931) was an R.A.F. and Navy officer, and the Admiralty
librarian from 1908 to 1931. He is most well known for his works on flags; particularly British Flags: Their Early History, and Their Development at Sea which has been described as the standard by which all other flag books are compared and Nelson's Signals in which he established that the flags which had been accepted as denoting Nelson's historic signal at Trafalgar
were incorrect.
Perrin was born on 10 February 1874. At a very early age he lost his father, and his education was thereby curtailed, but what he lacked in scholastic knowledge was more than compensated for in the school of experience and hard work. He owed his success in later life entirely to his own industry and merit. He entered the Civil Service by examination, and after a brief period in more than one department was posted to the Admiralty on August 2, 1893. He served first in the Record Office, where he acquired an aptitude for original research; and later in the Legal Branch, where he developed an interest in flag questions, upon which he became a recognised authority, and wrote a standard work.
In December, 1900, he became private secretary to Sir Evan MacGregor, Secretary to the Admiralty, and subsequently to his successor, Sir Inigo Thomas. His services were utilised to a great extent by Lord Fisher in connection with the carrying out of his reforms in naval administration. There is a glowing tribute to Perrin's incomparable efficiency in one of Lord Fisher's books.
He was appointed Librarian at the Admiralty on April 10, 1908. The completion of the Admiralty Arch
over the Mall afforded accommodation, long desired, for the reorganisation of the Library, and for this arduous work Perrin was just the man. He gathered, from attics and disused rooms, many volumes lying idle and uncared for and gave them proper house room, and took in hand the task of compiling a catalogue. In a little over two years the progress made was eulogised in a special article in The Times
on 16 September 1910, which referred to the transfer of some 50000 volumes to their new, spacious, and well-lighted apartments as having removed a long-standing reproach. A year later, on 20 September 1911, the new reading room attached to the Library was formally opened by Reginald McKenna
, then First Lord. Sir Inigo Thomas in his speech on that occasion, bore testimony to the energy and perseverance exhibited by Mr Perrin.
Upon his death the First Lord of the Admiralty referred to
From 1922 until his death Perrin was honorary editor of the Mariner's Mirror and honorary secretary of both the Navy Records Society
(since 1912 : it owes to him its revival after the War) and, by appointment of the Admiralty, to the Trustees of the National Maritime Museum
and MacPherson Collection at Greenwich
.
In the course of his research work Perrin made himself proficient in foreign languages, and he became an expert palaeographer. He was a keen chess player and an amateur organist of more than average skill. He left a widow, but no family.
Since 2006 the Flag Institute
has sponsored an annual public lecture on a flag-related topic, known as the ‘Perrin Lecture’ in honour of W.G. Perrin.
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
William Gordon Perrin, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1874–1931) was an R.A.F. and Navy officer, and the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
librarian from 1908 to 1931. He is most well known for his works on flags; particularly British Flags: Their Early History, and Their Development at Sea which has been described as the standard by which all other flag books are compared and Nelson's Signals in which he established that the flags which had been accepted as denoting Nelson's historic signal at Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
were incorrect.
Perrin was born on 10 February 1874. At a very early age he lost his father, and his education was thereby curtailed, but what he lacked in scholastic knowledge was more than compensated for in the school of experience and hard work. He owed his success in later life entirely to his own industry and merit. He entered the Civil Service by examination, and after a brief period in more than one department was posted to the Admiralty on August 2, 1893. He served first in the Record Office, where he acquired an aptitude for original research; and later in the Legal Branch, where he developed an interest in flag questions, upon which he became a recognised authority, and wrote a standard work.
In December, 1900, he became private secretary to Sir Evan MacGregor, Secretary to the Admiralty, and subsequently to his successor, Sir Inigo Thomas. His services were utilised to a great extent by Lord Fisher in connection with the carrying out of his reforms in naval administration. There is a glowing tribute to Perrin's incomparable efficiency in one of Lord Fisher's books.
He was appointed Librarian at the Admiralty on April 10, 1908. The completion of the Admiralty Arch
Admiralty Arch
Admiralty Arch is a large office building in London which incorporates an archway providing road and pedestrian access between The Mall, which extends to the South-West, and Trafalgar Square to the North-East. It was designed by Sir Aston Webb, constructed by John Mowlem & Co and completed in 1912...
over the Mall afforded accommodation, long desired, for the reorganisation of the Library, and for this arduous work Perrin was just the man. He gathered, from attics and disused rooms, many volumes lying idle and uncared for and gave them proper house room, and took in hand the task of compiling a catalogue. In a little over two years the progress made was eulogised in a special article in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
on 16 September 1910, which referred to the transfer of some 50000 volumes to their new, spacious, and well-lighted apartments as having removed a long-standing reproach. A year later, on 20 September 1911, the new reading room attached to the Library was formally opened by Reginald McKenna
Reginald McKenna
Reginald McKenna was a British banker and Liberal politician. He notably served as Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer during the premiership of H. H. Asquith.-Background and education:...
, then First Lord. Sir Inigo Thomas in his speech on that occasion, bore testimony to the energy and perseverance exhibited by Mr Perrin.
Upon his death the First Lord of the Admiralty referred to
From 1922 until his death Perrin was honorary editor of the Mariner's Mirror and honorary secretary of both the Navy Records Society
Navy Records Society
The Navy Records Society was established in 1893 as a scholarly society to publish historical documents that illustrated the history of the Royal Navy. Professor Sir John Knox Laughton and Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge were the key leaders who organized the Society, basing it on the model of earlier...
(since 1912 : it owes to him its revival after the War) and, by appointment of the Admiralty, to the Trustees of the National Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...
and MacPherson Collection at Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
.
In the course of his research work Perrin made himself proficient in foreign languages, and he became an expert palaeographer. He was a keen chess player and an amateur organist of more than average skill. He left a widow, but no family.
Since 2006 the Flag Institute
Flag Institute
The Flag Institute is a research and documentation centre for flags and flag information, founded on St George's Day, 23 April 1971 by William Crampton and Captain EMC Barraclough CBE RN. Although not an official body, it is the principal advisor and designer of flags to the government of the...
has sponsored an annual public lecture on a flag-related topic, known as the ‘Perrin Lecture’ in honour of W.G. Perrin.