First elected in a by-election on November 12, 2002 to succeed his father, Bob, who passed away while in office, Terry French has served as the Intergovernmental Affairs critic for the Official Opposition, as critic for Government Services and Lands and as the Parliamentary Assistant to Opposition Leader Danny Williams.

From 1997 to 2002, he served as Executive Assistant to St. John's East Member of Parliament Norman Doyle.

Mr. French was a graduate of Queen Elizabeth High School in Foxtrap in 1984. He subsequently attended Memorial University until joining his father in a family business in 1986.

He has strong involvement in the community, particularly in community sports. He served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Conception Bay South Sports Hall of Fame, a volunteer in the Summer Games in Conception Bay South, a Conception Bay South Minor Softball Coach, a member of the Conception Bay South Softball Umpire Association, and a Level 4 Umpire working at the National Softball Tournament.

Mr. French was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier on November 6, 2003. He was sworn in as the Member for Conception Bay South on November 12, 2003. On January 19, 2007, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment.

On October 30, 2007, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services.

Mr. French is married to Denise (Butt) and they have a daughter, Abbey, and son, Harold.