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JOHN JAY was
born on December 12, 1745, in New York, New York, and
grew up in Rye, New York. He was graduated from King’s
College (Now Columbia University) in 1764. He read law
in a New York law firm and was admitted to the bar in
1768. Jay served as a delegate to both the First and Second
Continental Congresses, and was elected President of the
Continental Congress in 1778. He also served in the New
York State militia. In 1779, Jay was sent on a diplomatic
mission to Spain in an effort to gain recognition and
economic assistance for the United States. In 1783, he
helped to negotiate the Treaty of Paris, which marked
the end of the Revolutionary War. Jay favored a stronger
union and contributed five essays to The Federalist
Papers in support of the new Constitution. President
George Washington nominated Jay the first Chief Justice
of the United States on September 24, 1789. The Senate
confirmed the appointment on September 26, 1789. In April
1794, Jay negotiated a treaty with Great Britain, which
became known as the Jay Treaty. After serving as Chief
Justice for five years, Jay resigned from the Supreme
Court on June 29, 1795, and became Governor of New York.
He declined a second appointment as Chief Justice in 1800,
and President John Adams then nominated John Marshall
for the position, Jay died on May 17, 1829, at the age
of eighty-three. |
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