Researching William Perry

Perry is the Michael and Barbara Berberian Professor (emeritus) at Stanford University, with a joint appointment at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the School of Engineering. He is also a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. He serves as director of the Preventive Defense Project. He is an expert in U.S. foreign policy, national security and arms control. In 2013 he founded the William J. Perry Project, a non-profit effort to educate the public on the current dangers of nuclear weapons.

Perry also has extensive business experience and serves on the boards of several high-tech companies. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 1970 for contributions to communications theory, radio propagation theory, and computer technology in the design of advanced systems. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Among Perry's numerous awards are the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1997) and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (2002), awarded by Japan.

In 1851 he lost the English heavyweight title in a controversial referee's decision to Harry Broome which he strongly disputed. After the leading contenders of the day refused to fight him, Perry reclaimed the English title until Tom Sayers defeated him in a championship bout in 1857.

Perry initially played for early teams representative of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, and then moved to the north-west of England, where he played for Liverpool Cricket Club. He made his first-class debut for the North against the South in 1856 at Broughton Cricket Club Ground. The North batted first, making 219 all out, with Perry ending the innings unbeaten on 11. The South then reached 46/3 in their first-innings, at which point poor weather intervened and the match ended as a draw. He continued to play for Liverpool Cricket Club as an effective bowler over the next decade, before being selected to play in Lancashire's inaugural first-class match against Middlesex at Old Trafford in 1865. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Lancashire made 243 all out, with Perry being dismissed for 16 by William Catling. In response, Middlesex made the same total in their first-innings, during which Perry took two catches and made a single stumping while keeping-wicket, as well as bowling seven overs. In its second-innings, Lancashire were dismissed for 178 all out, with Perry dismissed for a duck by Vyell Walker. Chasing 199 for victory, Middlesex were dismissed for 116, with Perry taking a single catch during their chase.

Perry also stood as an umpire in four first-class matches between 1859 and 1866. He died at Thatcham, Berkshire, on 15 March 1913.

He was appointed to the Legislative Council from 22 June 1934 to 21 June 1941, from 23 June 1941 to 22 June 1948, and from 23 June 1948 to 31 December 1950 when the Council was abolished. He was appointed by the United–Reform Coalition Government, and then by the First Labour Government.

He was Deputy Chairman of the War Cabinet from 10 June 1943 to 22 August 1945 (it had been dissolved on 21 August). Sidney Holland had been Deputy Chairman from 30 June 1942 to 2 October 1942, when he resigned.

Perry was president of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RSA) from 1935 to 1943.

Perry lived in Wellington. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1946 New Year Honours. He died in 1968 and was buried at Karori Cemetery.