He studied medicine at the University of St Andrews, graduating with an MB ChB in 1943, MD in 1948 and a DSc in 1958.
He developed his career at the University of Edinburgh as Professor of Pharmacology, later Dean of Medicine and Vice Principal.
Perry was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1957 New Year Honours[3] and was knighted in 1974.
[5] He joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a founder member in 1981, and was one of the signatories to the Limehouse Declaration.
Perry married (1) Dr Anne Elizabeth Grant in 1946 (2) Catherine Hilda Crawley in 1971.