He was a native Upper Canadian, and was born at Ernestown, about fifteen miles from Kingston, in the year 1793, during the early part of Governor Simcoe's Administration. His father, Robert Perry, was a U. E. Loyalist, who came over from the State of New York a few years before this time, and settled near the foot of the Bay of Quinté. Robert Perry was a farmer, well known in that district for his enterprise, public spirit, and devotion to his principles. He died just before the consummation of the Union of the Provinces. His son was brought up to farming pursuits, and early had to struggle with the many difficulties which beset the path of the founders of Upper Canada. The only means of tuition for boys in the rural districts in those days were the public schools, and throughout his life the subject of this sketch laboured under the disadvantages inseparable from an imperfect educational training. He grew up to manhood with little knowledge derived from books, and continued to devote himself to agricultural pursuits until he had reached middle life. When he was only twenty-one years of age he married Miss Mary Ham, the daughter of a U. E. Loyalist of that neighbourhood. This lady, by whom he had a numerous family, is still living, and has reached the advanced age of eighty-five years. Mr. John Ham Perry, who long held the position of Registrar of the county of Ontario, is one of the fruits of this marriage. Peter Perry took a warm interest in politics, and early acquired a local reputation for much native sagacity and strength of character. He was a fluent, although somewhat coarse, speaker on the platform, and was an awkward antagonist to the local supporters of the Family Compact. He was an intimate friend and coadjutor of Barnabas Bidwell and his son Marshall, and in 1824 assisted in organizing the nucleus of the Reform Party. During the same year he entered public life as one of the representatives of the United Counties of Lennox and Addington in the Assembly of Upper Canada. He soon established for himself a reputation there as one of the most vehement champions of Reform. His denunciations of the Compact were frequent and energetic, and the Party in power dreaded his sharp and vigorous tongue even more than that of his friend Marshall Spring Bidwell, who was his colleague in the representation of Lennox and Addington. His first vote in the Assembly was recorded on behalf of Mr. John Willson, of Wentworth, who was the Reform candidate for the Speakership, and who was elected to that position as successor to Mr. Sherwood. The vote on this question was a fair test of the strength of parties in the Assembly, and for the first time the adherents of the Compact found themselves in a minority. It will be understood, however, that the victory of the Reformers was rather nominal than real, as there was no such thing as Responsible Government in those days, and the advisers of the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir