 He served with the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, attaining the rank of Lieutenant.Popularly known as P. B. Waite, Waite began his association in 1951 with Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.He taught at Dalhousie first as a lecturer in history (1951–55), then assistant professor (1955 - 1960) and finally Thomas McCulloch Professor of History from 1960 until his retirement.