Who Was John Jay?

        Jay, John, an American statesman and the first Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, was born in New York, December 12, 1745. After graduating at King's (now Columbia) College, he read law, and was admitted to the bar in 1768. He soon acquired an extensive and lucrative practice, and obtained great influence in the assemblies which met to consider the hostile attitude of the British government In 1774 he was elected to the First Continental Congress, at Philadelphia, and became one of the most prominent leaders of that body. He gained distinction as an eloquent and forcible writer by the addresses to the people of Great Britain and to the people of Canada which he prepared. He aided in forming the Constitution of New York m 1777, and in May of the same year was appointed Chief-Justice of that State. He was afterward chosen President of Congress, and was sent as Minister to Spam in September, 1779. He afterward negotiated, with Adams and others, at Paris, the treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain which was signed September 3, 1783. In 1784 he was appointed by Congress Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Be returned to America and accepted the position, the duties of which he performed with great ability until the election of Washington, in 1789. He joined with Hamilton and Madison in 1787 in writing The Federalist and two years later was appointed by Washington Chief- Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

       In 1794, Jay was sent as a special envoy to England to adjust various causes of dispute which had arisen between that country and America. He consented with the greatest reluctance to accept the mission, as he was well aware of the difficulties which surrounded it He concluded a treaty in November which was bitterly assailed in America by the party favorable to France, and Jay was himself burned in effigy in Boston. He was however, defended with rare ability by Alexander Hamilton and by Fisher Ames. During his absence in Europe he was, without his consent, elected Governor of the State of New York; but he accepted the position, and held it for six years. During his administration slavery was abolished in that State. At the end of his second term he declined a renomination, and also his former position of Chief-Justice of the United States, which was tendered him. Died May 17, 1829. 

The Reluctant Revolutionary.

This free article may be printed and used in a classroom environment. It is reproduced here for extended reading and research into the life stories of American Girl Felicity Merriman. Students may also use the material above in the development of lapbooks/notebooks for home school, private school or public school assignments.

• Back to learning history with Felicity Merriman and Elizabeth Cole