Blackwell Reference Online

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(b. New York, N.Y., 12 December 1745; Bedford, N.Y., 17 May 1829) He became N.Y.'s chief justice in 1777, president of the C ontinental C ongress in 1778, envoy to Spain in 1780, and a US negotiator for the treaty of P aris (1783). As secretary for foreign affairs, he negotiated the abortive J ay —G ardoqui T reaty . He wrote five of the F ederalist P apers . He declined to be George W ashington's first secretary of state, and instead was confirmed as the S upreme C ourt's first chief justice on 26 September 1789. He authored C hisholm v. G eorgia and negotiated J ay's T reaty with Britain, then left the Court in 1795 to be N.Y. governor. Renominated as chief justice on 18 December 1800 and confirmed the next day. Jay refused the appointment (made without his knowledge), and retired from politics at the age of 55. ... log in or subscribe to read full text