Prince William
Famous Astronauts
Nelson Mandela
Kanye West
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Liberace
Leonardo DiCaprio
Annie Oakley
I Survived
1 photo
Quick Facts
- NAME: John Jay
- OCCUPATION: Supreme Court Justice, Diplomat, U.S. Representative, U.S. Governor, Journalist
- BIRTH DATE: December 12, 1745
- DEATH DATE: May 17, 1829
- EDUCATION: King's College (now Columbia University)
- PLACE OF BIRTH: New York, New York
- PLACE OF DEATH: Bedford, New York
- AKA: Judge John Jay
- AKA: Justice John Jay
Best Known For
One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, John Jay is known as a writer of The Federalist Papers and for being the nation's first chief justice.
Quiz
Think you know about Biography?
Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.
Play NowJohn Jay. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 03:02, Jun 19, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/john-jay-9353566.
John Jay. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/john-jay-9353566 [Accessed 19 Jun 2013].
"John Jay." 2013. The Biography Channel website. Jun 19 2013, 03:02 http://www.biography.com/people/john-jay-9353566.
"John Jay," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/john-jay-9353566 [accessed Jun 19, 2013].
"John Jay," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/john-jay-9353566 (accessed Jun 19, 2013).
John Jay [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 Jun 19] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/john-jay-9353566.
John Jay, http://www.biography.com/people/john-jay-9353566 (last visited Jun 19, 2013).
John Jay. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/john-jay-9353566. Accessed Jun 19, 2013.
Synopsis
John Jay was born in New York City on December 12, 1745. Initially wary of the disruption that independence would bring, he soon devoted himself to the American Revolution. Jay served in the Continental Congress, was a diplomat, wrote some of The Federalist Papers and became the first chief justice of the United States. He died in Bedford, New York, on May 17, 1829, at the age of 83.
Contents
Quotes
"The wise and the good never form the majority of any large society, and it seldom happens that their measures are uniformly adopted; or that they can always prevent being overborne themselves by the strong and almost never-ceasing union of the wicked and the weak."
"Too many in your State, as in this, love pure democracy dearly. They seem not to consider that pure democracy, like pure rum, easily produces intoxication, and with it a thousand mad pranks and fooleries."
Early Life
Born in New York City, on December 12, 1745, John Jay spent his childhood in nearby Rye, New York. Jay had established himself as a successful lawyer by the time that rifts with Great Britain and calls for independence erupted in the colonies.
During the Revolutionary War
Jay represented New York at the Continental Congress in 1774. His conservative nature initially had him searching for a way to maintain ties with Great Britain, something many other colonists also desired. However, wanting to ensure that colonists' rights would be respected, Jay soon wholeheartedly supported the revolution.
In 1776, Jay went back to New York. After working as the state's chief justice and helping to write the state constitution, he returned to the Continental Congress in 1778. Jay became president of the Congress, but would soon take on his most prominent role during the war—that of diplomat.
As minister plenipotentiary, Jay traveled to Spain in an attempt to garner more support for American independence—a visit that was largely unsuccessful. Jay next joined Benjamin Franklin in Paris, France, where they negotiated an end to the Revolutionary War with the Treaty of Paris (1783).
Working Toward a New Constitution
With peace secured, Jay became foreign affairs secretary under the Articles of Confederation. Frustration with the limited power of the state he represented led Jay to support a stronger central government, and thus a new Constitution.
Jay put pen to paper to show his support, joining Alexander Hamilton and James Madison to write five of the essays that became known as The Federalist Papers. The Federalist Papers discussed, and argued in favor of, the principles of government laid out in the Constitution. Jay also authored a pamphlet, "An Address to the People of New York," which helped the Constitution attain ratification in New York.
Service to the United States
In 1789, George Washington appointed Jay as the Supreme Court's first chief justice, a role he held until 1795. Jay took a break from judicial duties in 1794, when he went to Great Britain in order to address contentious issues such as exports, seizures and occupation. The resulting "Jay Treaty" sparked protests because it was considered too favorable for the British. However, the treaty averted a war that the United States was then ill-equipped to fight.
Upon his return to the United States, Jay learned that he had been elected governor of New York. He resigned his seat on the Supreme Court to take office. Jay refused a reappointment to the Supreme Court in 1800, citing his poor health and a reluctance to resume life on the judicial riding circuit.
profile name: John Jay profile occupation:
Your Connections
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.
Profile Connections
Included In These Groups
-
People with Animal Names
View groupBird, Bear, Crazy Horse and Kitty. Naturally, you'd think we're referring to animals, but actually, these are the names of famous people. Explore this unique category of individuals whose names are full of fur, feather and scales.
People with Animal Names 36 people in this group
-
Founding Fathers
View groupThey are American icons—they're on our dollars and coins, they are the subject of our monuments, and we live our daily lives in the world their ideas helped create. America's "Founding Fathers" include George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and of course, Benjamin Franklin. These men, together with several other key players of their time, structured the American democracy and left a legacy that has shaped the world. But beyond their legends, these men were human beings who led complex and fascinating lives. Learning their stories helps us better understand what made them tick, as well as their influence on our world today.
Founding Fathers 19 people in this group
-
Famous Sagittarians 569 people in this group
