Jay, John
soldier, lawyer, statesman, was born Dec. 12, 1745, in New York city.
He was a delegate to the continental congress from 1774 to 1777, and from 1778 to 1779. In 1776 he was recalled from congress to aid in forming the government of New York, and for that reason was not present to sign the declaration of independence.
From 1777 to 1779 he was chief justice of the state, but resigned to fill the post of president of congress. He was appointed secretary of state. Though not a member he aided at the convention which framed the federal constitution. In 1789 he was appointed chief justice of the supreme court of thè United States, which position he resigned in 1794 to accept the mission to England, when he negotiated the treaty which bears his name. He was governor of New York from 1795 to 1801, after which he retired to private life. His Correspondence and State Papers were published in 1893. He died May 17, 1829, in Bedford, N. Y.