He was educated at King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds,[1] before going up to Christ's College, Cambridge.

[2] In the same year he made his debut in first-class cricket for Cambridgeshire against Surrey at Fenner's.

[5] In addition to playing first-class cricket for Cambridgeshire, Perkins also made four appearances for the Marylebone Cricket Club between 1863 and 1868, scoring 129 runs and made a single half century score of 67.

He was a well-known figure in Cambridgeshire sport, where he was known by the nickname Jack, and was the brother of the cricketer Henry Perkins.

[2] Perkins attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself at East Hatley on 30 April 1901, when described as "not being of sound mind"; he succumbed to his wounds a short time later.