James Ronald Chalmers
James Ronald Chalmers (January 11, 1831 – April 9, 1898) was an American politician and senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded infantry and cavalry in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.
James Ronald Chalmers | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi | |
| In office March 4, 1877 – April 29, 1882 | |
| Preceded by | John R. Lynch |
| Succeeded by | John R. Lynch |
| Constituency | 6th district |
| In office June 25, 1884 – March 3, 1885 | |
| Preceded by | Van H. Manning |
| Succeeded by | James B. Morgan |
| Constituency | 2nd district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 11, 1831 Halifax County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | April 9, 1898 (aged 67) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. 35°07′24.0″N 90°01′48.7″W |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relations | Joseph Williams Chalmers (father) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States |
| Branch/service | Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Brigadier-General |
| Commands | 9th Mississippi Infantry Chalmers' Cavalry Division |
| Battles | |
After the war, Chalmers served as a state senator in Mississippi and United States Congressman for several terms from the state's 6th congressional district, beginning in 1876. He 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.