Gerald Holtom was a British designer and artist best known for creating the iconic peace symbol in 1958. He designed the symbol for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), using a combination of the semaphore signals for the letters "N" and "D," which stand for nuclear disarmament. The symbol quickly gained popularity and became a universal emblem for peace. Holtom's design was inspired by his opposition to nuclear weapons and his desire for a peaceful world. Over the years, the peace symbol has been adopted by various movements and has become synonymous with anti-war and civil rights efforts globally.