John Jay

John Jay (December 12, 1745 – May 17, 1829) was an American politician, statesman, slave owner, and diplomat. He was a Supreme Court Chief Justice and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Jay served in the Continental Congress and was elected President of that body. During and after the American Revolution, he was a minister (ambassador) to Spain and France, helping to fashion American foreign policy and to secure favorable peace terms from the British and French. He co-wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.

John Jay
1st Chief Justice of the United States
In office September 26, 1789 – June 29, 1795
Nominated by	George Washington
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	John Rutledge
2nd Governor of New York
In office July 1, 1795 – June 30, 1801
Lieutenant	Stephen Van Rensselaer
Preceded by	George Clinton
Succeeded by	George Clinton
Acting United States Secretary of State
In office September 15, 1789 – March 22, 1790
President	George Washington
Preceded by	Himself as Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Succeeded by	Thomas Jefferson
United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs
In office July 27, 1789 – September 15, 1789 Acting
President	George Washington
Preceded by	Himself
Succeeded by	Himself as Secretary of State
In office May 7, 1784 – March 4, 1789
Appointed by	Confederation Congress
Preceded by	Robert Livingston
Succeeded by	Himself (acting)
United States Minister to Spain
In office September 27, 1779 – May 20, 1782
Appointed by	Second Continental Congress
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	William Carmichael
6th President of the Second Continental Congress
In office December 10, 1778 – September 28, 1779
Preceded by	Henry Laurens
Succeeded by	Samuel Huntington
Delegate to the Second Continental Congress from New York
In office December 7, 1778 – September 28, 1779
Preceded by	Philip Livingston
Succeeded by	Robert Livingston
In office May 10, 1775 – May 22, 1776
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Delegate to the First Continental Congress from Province of New York
In office September 5, 1774 – October 26, 1774
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	(1745-12-23)December 23, 1745 New York City, New York, British America
Died	May 17, 1829(1829-05-17) (aged 83) Bedford, New York, U.S.
Political party	Federalist
Spouse(s)	Sarah Livingston
Children	6, including Peter and William
Education	Columbia University (BA, MA)
Signature

Jay served on the U.S. Supreme Court as the first Chief Justice of the United States from 1789 to 1795. In 1794 he negotiated the Jay Treaty with the British. A leader of the new Federalist party, Jay was governor of New York from 1795 to 1801. He was the leading opponent of slavery and the slave trade in New York. His first attempt to pass emancipation legislation failed in 1777 and failed again in 1785, but he succeeded in 1799, signing the law that eventually emancipated the slaves of New York; the last were freed before his death.

John Jay Media

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  Drawing of Sarah Jay by Robert Edge Pine.

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  Jay's childhood home in Rye, New York is a New York State Historic Site and Westchester County Park

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  Jay's retirement home near Katonah, New York is a New York State Historic Site

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  The Treaty of Paris, by Benjamin West (1783) (Jay stands farthest to the left). The British delegation refused to pose for the painting, leaving it unfinished.

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  Jay as he appears at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

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  1795 pamphlet containing text of Jay Treaty. Published Philadelphia 1795 (before 1923--copyright expired).

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  Gubernatorial portrait of Jay.

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  Certificate of Election of Jay as Governor of New York (June 6, 1795)

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  John Jay 15¢ Liberty Issue postage stamp, 1958.

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  Rye, New York Post Office Dedication Stamp and cancellation, September 5, 1936