Terry was born in Todd County, Kentucky. From 1855 to 1859 he was a California State Supreme Court Justice, serving as the 4th Chief Justice of California from 1857. Terry was always known for his fiery temper. In 1856, he stabbed Sterling A. Hopkins, a member of the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance and was arrested, but was not tried. Terry is buried at Stockton Rural Cemetery in Stockton.