Jay, John (1745–1829)

US diplomat and jurist, a member of the Continental Congress 1774–89 and its president in 1779. With Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, he negotiated the Peace of Paris in 1783, which concluded the American Revolution. President Washington named him first chief justice of the USA in 1789. He negotiated Jay's Treaty with England in 1795, averting another war. He was governor of New York 1795–1801.

Jay was born in New York City, and became a barrister in 1768. He drew up the constitution of New York State in 1777, and became first chief justice of New York in 1778. He was US minister to Spain 1779–82 and later served as foreign secretary for the Continental Congress 1784–89. A strong supporter of the federal constitution, he collaborated with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison on the ‘Federalist Papers’ (1787–88), advocating ratification of the US Constitution.