William Richard Terry (March 12, 1827 – March 28, 1897) was a businessman, politician, prison superintendent and a brigadier general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
William R. Terry was born in rural Liberty in Bedford County, Virginia, to William Terry and Lettie Johnson Terry. He entered the Virginia Military Institute in July 1846 and graduated on July 4, 1850, ranking 15th in a class of 17 cadets. He then attended the University of Virginia and became a prosperous merchant and farmer. In 1856, he married Mary Adelaide Pemberton (died 1910). The couple had three sons and three daughters.
With the outbreak of the Civil War in early 1861 and Virginia's secession, Terry raised and outfitted a company of cavalry in Bedford County. His performance at the First Battle of Manassas garnered attention, praise, and a promotion in September to colonel of the 24th Virginia Infantry, replacing Jubal A. Early, who had been promoted to brigade command. Leading a charge at the Battle of Williamsburg during the Peninsula Campaign, Terry suffered the first of what would eventually be seven combat wounds during the Civil War. He missed the Seven Days Battles, but returned to duty for the Northern Virginia Campaign in August. Later that year, he assumed temporary command of Kemper's Brigade of infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia before returning to his regimental command.