 A man of many talents, outside his work as an iron founder and merchant his energy was directed towards many diffuse interests, such as map-making, the history of Liverpool, and the writing of poetry.Perry was an early promoter of the benefits of new canals.In 1758, shortly after the opening of the early Sankey Canal, Perry wrote an article which appeared in "The Gentleman's Magazine" in which he proposed the construction of an "inland water conveyance from London to Gloucester, Worcester and Bristol, or from Liverpool to Hull".