Perraivos was born c. 1773 in Pieria. His family name was Chadzivassilis (Χατζηβασίλης), but adopted the nickname “Perraivos” alluding to the Perrhaebi, an ancient Greek tribe of Thessaly. It is believed that he was an illegitimate son of a certain monk Hieronymos, official at the bishopry of Larissa. He served in the regural army of the new Greek Kingdom as a colonel, and was promoted to Major General by King Otto of Greece in 1844. He died on 4 May 1863 in Athens.