John R. Dinsmore
John Robert Dinsmore Sr. was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Macon, Mississippi. He was the President pro tempore of the Mississippi State Senate in 1900 and also served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1892 to 1900.
Biography
John Robert DInsmore was born near Macon, Mississippi, on January 18, 1855. He was the son of Andrew McDonald Dinsmore and Minerva Barton Dinsmore. Andrew Dinsmore was of Scotch-Irish descent. John Dinsmore studied law at Cumberland University, graduating in June 1876, "completing his law course with honor and winning a medal for debating". Dinsmore then became a lawyer in Macon, Mississippi.Career
Dinsmore was elected to be Mayor of Macon in 1880 and then served for six years in a row. On November 3, 1891, Dinsmore was elected to represent Noxubee County as a Democrat in the Mississippi House of Representatives for the 1892-1896 term. Dinsmore served in both sessions of the term, held in 1892 and 1894. In the 1894 session, Dinsmore served in the House's Appropriations and Manufacturers committees. In 1895, Dinsmore ran for re-election, and mentioned his support of free silver in his bid for re-election. On November 7, 1895, Dinsmore was elected to another four-year term in the House. He served in all three of that term's sessions, held in 1896, 1897, and 1898.In 1899, Dinsmore was elected to represent the 16th District in the Mississippi State Senate for the 1900–1904 term. He was unanimously elected to be the senate's president pro tempore for the four years of that term.
While still in office, Dinsmore died of apoplexy at his home in Macon, Mississippi, on April 27, 1900. He was considered a leading figure in the Mississippi bar at the time of his death. In the 1902 session, he was succeeded in the 16th District by A. T. Dent, and as president pro tempore by William Gwin Kiger.