The son of the Spaniard Augurio Perera and his wife, Francisca, he was born at Holborn in about 1836.
His father was a merchant who moved the family to Birmingham in the same year of his birth, where he took over a storehouse on Great Charles Street.
[1] Perera made his debut in first-class cricket for Manchester against Surrey at Eccles in 1857.
The following season, he made three appearances in first-class cricket, appearing twice for the Gentlemen of the North against the Gentlemen of the South, and once for Manchester against Sussex.
His middle brother, Pedro, was also a first-class cricketer, while his eldest brother, Augurio, is credited as being the co-inventor of lawn tennis.