Persano was born at Vercelli, Piedmont. As a young man Persano joined the Sardinian navy and advanced rapidly to high office. He commanded the fleet from 1860 to 1861, and saw action in the struggle for Italian unification. After unification he was elected to the legislature; he became Minister of Marine in 1862 and in 1865 he was nominated a Senator. However, his career was marred during the war with Austria when he commanded the Italian fleet at Lissa. After the defeat, he was condemned for incapacity, and discharged. He died at Turin in 1883.