Jay John

Jay, John (1745-1829), an American statesman, was born at New York. After graduating at what is now Columbia College, he went to the Bar and obtained a large practice. He was a delegate to the Philadelphia Congress of 1774, and drew up the Address to the People of Great Britain. He was also a member of the second Congress, but was prevented by absence from signing the Declaration of Independence. He drafted the constitution of New York State, of which he became Chief Justice. In 1778 he was elected President of Congress, in 1780 went on a mission to Spain, and in the following year was appointed one of the commissioners to negotiate the treaty with Great Britain. On his return to America he became Foreign Secretary, and in 1789 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He took an important part in framing the American constitution. He incurred much odium in consequence of the treaty of 1794, negotiated by him with Great Britain, but was, notwithstanding, soon after elected Governor of New York, and re-elected in 1798. In 1801 he retired from public life.