James Ronald Chalmers
| James Ronald Chalmers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
January 11, 1831 Halifax County, Virginia |
| Died | April 9, 1898 (aged 67) Memphis, Tennessee |
| Place of burial | Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee |
| Allegiance |
 Confederate States
|
| Service/branch |
 Confederate States Army
|
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier-General
|
| Campaigns | |
| Relations | Joseph Chalmers (father) |
| Other work | Lawyer |
James Ronald Chalmers (January 11, 1831 – April 9, 1898) was an American lawyer and politician, a state senator in Mississippi and United States Congressman for several terms from the state's 6th congressional district, beginning in 1876. This black-majority district had been established by the legislature to produce white majorities in the other five districts.
Chalmers was re-elected in 1880, but the election was contested by his Republican African-American opponent, John R. Lynch. Congress awarded the seat to Lynch because of marked election fraud by the Democrats. In 1882 Chalmers ran as an Independent Democrat on a fusionist ticket, with support by Republicans and Greenbackers. He contested the victory of the regular Democrat, and Congress finally awarded the seat to Chalmers, seating him in 1884. He left politics after losing election in the fall of 1884.
During the American Civil War, Chalmers had served with the Confederate States Army. Commissioned as a colonel, he reached the rank of brigadier general and was involved in many actions.
James Ronald Chalmers was born in Halifax County, Virginia, January 11, 1831. His father was Joseph Chalmers, who, having moved to Mississippi with his family when James was a boy, settled in Holly Springs in 1839. He was first appointed by the governor to fill a term, then elected by the state legislature as U. S. Senator. James was prepared for South Carolina College at Columbia, where he was graduated in 1851.
He returned to Holly Springs to study (read) law with an established firm, and was admitted to the bar in 1853. After a few years of practice, Chalmers was elected as district attorney in 1858. In 1861 he was elected as a delegate to the convention which passed the ordinance of secession. Like his father an ardent State rights Democrat, Chalmers voted in favor of secession.
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