Background
Born in Greenville, he was the son of Doctor Joel Edgar Green and Sarah Rebecca (Anthony) Terrell.
Born in Greenville, he was the son of Doctor Joel Edgar Green and Sarah Rebecca (Anthony) Terrell.
He attended the common schools, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1882, commencing practice in Greenville.
They had no children. Terrell was a self-declared "uncompromising friend of common school education."
Terrell was of entirely English ancestry and is of partial Norman descent. He was a fourth generation great-grandson of William and Susannah (Waters) Terrell.
As a result, he was distantly related to presidents Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter.
He served as state attorney general from 1892 to 1902, and Governor of Georgia from 1902 to 1907, marred by the Atlanta race riot of 1906. He resumed the practice of law in Atlanta, and was appointed to the United States. Senate as a Democrat to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Alexander South. Clay, serving from November 17, 1910 to July 14, 1911, when he resigned.
Terrell suffered a stroke in February 1911. He again resumed the practice of law in Atlanta although in poor health and died there from Bright"s Disease on November 17, 1912.
Interment was in the City Cemetery, Greenville.
Quotations: "uncompromising friend of common school education.".
Terrell was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1884 to 1887, and a member of the Georgia Senate in 1890.