PERROT, SIR JOHN (c. 1527-1592), lord deputy of Ire land, the son of Mary Berkley (afterwards wife of Thomas Per rot) was generally reputed to be a son of Henry VIII., and was attached to the hOusehold of William Paulet, 1st marquess of Win chester. Perrot was knighted at the coronation of Edward VI. and though imprisoned during Mary's reign on the charge of harbour ing heretics, he received the castle and lordship of Carew in Pem brokeshire, and at the beginning of Elizabeth's reign was entrusted with the naval defence of South Wales. In 1570 Perrot became lord president of Munster, in which capacity he hunted down James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald, whose submission he received in 1572. Perrot resented the reinstatement of Gerald Fitzgerald, 15th earl of Desmond, and after vainly seeking his own recall left Ire land without leave in July 1573, and presenting himself at court was allowed to resign his office, in which he was succeeded by Sir William Drury. He returned to his Welsh home, where he was oc cupied with his duties as vice-admiral of the Welsh seas.
In 1584 Perrot succeeded Arthur Grey, Lord Grey de Wilton, as lord deputy of Ireland, and was instructed to divide the confis cated estates of the earl of Desmond among English landlords who were to supply English labour. But his plans were disturbed by
the raids of the Macleans and the MacDonnells, invited to Ulster by Sorley Boy, whom he reduced to submission in 1586. In 1585 Perrot succeeded in completing the "composition of Connaught," a scheme for a contract between Elizabeth and the landholders of the province by which the queen should receive a small quitrent. During his career as lord deputy he had established peace, and had deserved well of Elizabeth, but his indiscretions had made him numerous enemies. A plan for the conversion of the revenues of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, to provide funds for the erection of two colleges, led to a quarrel with Adam Loftus, archbishop of Armagh, and in Jan. 1588 he returned to London in disgrace. After his return a forged letter purporting to be from him to Philip II. of Spain gave colour to a charge of treason. He was found guilty, but died in the Tower in September 1592.
A life of Sir John Perrot from a MS. dating from the end of Elizabeth's reign was printed in 1728. Sir James Perrot (157i—I637), writer and politician, was his illegitimate son.