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Williams (JOHN SHARP a United States)

JOHN SHARP, a United States Senator from Mississippi, born in Memphis, Tenn., in 1854. He was educated at the Kentucky Military Institute, at the University of Virginia, and at the University of Heidelberg. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1877. In the following year he removed to Mississippi and engaged in cotton planting. He took an active interest in politics and was elected to Congress from the 53d to the 60th Congresses (1893-1911). During his service in the House of Representatives, he served as minority leader and was the Democratic candidate for speaker from the 58th to the 60th Congresses. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1910, and was re-elected in 1916. During his service in the Senate he was a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and of the Finance Committee. He was recognized as one of the strongest Democratic members, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate. He wrote "Permanent Influence of Thomas Jefferson on American Institutions" (1913).