| John Jay participated in the American Revolution. Join: 1776 Project Discuss: 1776 |
Preceded by Constitution ratified on March 4, 1789 Office established July 27, 1789 Preceded by 1st Governor George Clinton |
John Jay 1st Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court1789—1795 Acting United States Secretary of State1789—1790 2nd Governor of New York1795—1801 |
Succeeded by 2nd Chief Justice John Rutledge Succeeded by 1st Secretary Thomas Jefferson Succeeded by 3rd Governor George Clinton |
Preceded by 5th President Henry Laurens |
John Jay 6th President of the Continental Congress 10 Dec 1778 - 28 Sep 1779 |
Succeeded by 7th President Samuel Huntington |
1st Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and President of the American Bible Society
"By conveying the Bible to people thus circumstanced, we certainly do them a most interesting kindness. We thereby enable them to learn that man was originally created and placed in a state of happiness, but, becoming disobedient, was subjected to the degradation and evils which he and his posterity have since experienced.
"The Bible will also inform them that our gracious Creator has provided for us a Redeemer, in whom all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; that this Redeemer has made atonement "for the sins of the whole world," and thereby reconciling the Divine justice with the Divine mercy has opened a way for our redemption and salvation; and that these inestimable benefits are of the free gift and grace of God, not of our deserving, nor in our power to deserve."
--In God We Trust—The Religious Beliefs and Ideas of the American Founding Fathers, p. 379.
"In forming and settling my belief relative to the doctrines of Christianity, I adopted no articles from creeds but such only as, on careful examination, I found to be confirmed by the Bible."
--American Statesman Series, p. 360.
Born into a wealthy family of New York City merchants, John Jay is remembered as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and an astute statesman, politician and diplomat. He was President of the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1779 and the first Chief Justice of the United States from 1789 to 1795.
Jay was instrumental in chartering US foreign policy, serving as the ambassador to Spain and France during the American Revolution. Through the Jay Treaty, he was able to secure better than expected peace terms with both Britain and France. In 1788 he had the distinct honor of writing the Federalist Papers with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.
Serving as Governor of New York from 1795 to 1801 and the leader of the Federalist party, Jay became a strong opponent of slavery. After two unsuccessful attempts, he was able to pass emancipation for all New York slaves in 1799 - thirty years before his death in 1829.
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John is 20 degrees from Zendaya Coleman, 23 degrees from Sting Sumner, 16 degrees from Josh Brolin, 18 degrees from Timothée Chalamet, 18 degrees from José Ferrer, 18 degrees from Frank Herbert, 10 degrees from Richard Jordan, 20 degrees from David Lynch, 16 degrees from Virginia Madsen, 19 degrees from Charlotte Rampling, 27 degrees from Patrick Stewart and 17 degrees from Denis Villeneuve on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
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Abby
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Hope to hear from some more family members soon!
Angela