Peter O'Donoghue (officer of arms)

Michael Peter Desmond O'Donoghue (born 1971) is a British officer of arms who currently serves as York Herald of Arms in Ordinary at the College of Arms in London. He was appointed to the office on 31 May 2012, having served as Bluemantle Pursuivant from 2005.

For the athlete, see Peter O'Donoghue (athlete).

O'Donoghue at the 2006 Garter Service

Life and career

The son of Michael John O'Donoghue (1934-2016), a lecturer in gemmology at the London Metropolitan University and a noted author of books on the subject, formerly a curator at the British Museum and the National Library of Scotland,[1] and Elizabeth Anne Hawkins (née Borley),[2] O'Donoghue was educated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (M.A. 1991)[3] where he was president of the Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society. He worked for several years as a genealogist and researcher, including time spent as research assistant to two Windsor Heralds—the late Theobald Mathew and William Hunt.

With Clive Cheesman (Richmond Herald), O'Donoghue is the co-editor of The Coat of Arms, the twice-yearly journal of the Heraldry Society. The two heralds took over that position in 2005 from the late John Brooke-Little, former Clarenceux King of Arms.[4]

In 2002, O'Donoghue married Catherine Ann Wolfe, Ph.D.[5]

See also

• Heraldry
• Pursuivant

References

1. "The Geological Society of London - Michael O'Donoghue 1934-2016".
2. "O'Donoghue, (Michael) Peter (Desmond), York Herald, College of Arms, since 2012 | Who's WHO & WHO WAS WHO".
3. The Cambridge University List of Members up to 31 December 1991, Cambridge University Press, 1991, p. 1005
4. The Coat of Arms. Third Series Volume 1, No 209: Spring 2005.
5. "O'Donoghue, (Michael) Peter (Desmond), York Herald, College of Arms, since 2012 | Who's WHO & WHO WAS WHO".

Heraldic offices
Preceded by Robert Noel	Bluemantle Pursuivant 2005 – 2012	Vacant
Preceded by Henry Paston-Bedingfeld	York Herald 2012 – present	Incumbent