Peter Perkins was born in Goochland County, Virginia on March 26, 1739. Later a resident of Pittsylvania County, Perkins was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1775 to 1776 and later a member of the Virginian House of Delegates from 1777 to 1778. He served as a lieutenant colonel for the Pittsylvania County Regiment of the Virginia State Militia during the American Revolution, chiefly serving in an administrative capacity. He died in Williamson County, Tennessee on February 12, 1813.