Elected as U.S. Representative for Alabama's 2nd congressional district in 1920, he won re-election in 1922, but died less than a month after being sworn in to the 67th U.S.

John R. Tyson graduated from Howard College, Marion, Alabama, in 1877 and from Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, in 1879.

Montgomery voters elected and re-elected Tyson as a member of the city council beginning in May 1889[4] and he became its president in May 1891.

[7] His great-grandson John M. Tyson Sr. served as the Mobile County District Attorney, but lost his bids for statewide elective office.

[8][9] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress