?James D. Lynch was elected as Mississippi’s Secretary of State in 1869, becoming the first African American to hold this position in the state. He served from 1869 until his death on December 18, 1872. ?

Before his political career, Lynch was a dedicated missionary and minister. He worked to establish churches and schools for African American communities in South Carolina and Georgia during the Civil War. In 1868, he moved to Mississippi, where he became a prominent figure in organizing the Republican Party and advocating for the political rights of freedmen. ?

Lynch’s election as Secretary of State marked a significant milestone during the Reconstruction era, reflecting the increasing political involvement of African Americans in the South during that period.