Jay, John

1745 - Born on the 12th of December in New York City.

1768 - He attended King's College, the forerunner of today's Columbia College, and began the practice of law, partnership with his relative by marriage, Robert Livingston

1774 - He believed the British tax measures were wrong and thought Americans were morally and legally justified in resisting them, but as a delegate to the First Continental Congress. He sided with those who wanted conciliation with Parliament.
 

1777 - Was a leader against slavery, when he drafted a state law to abolish slavery; it failed as did a second attempt.

1779 - He held the post of American Minister to Spain, before joining Ben Franklin and John Adams in Paris for the peace negotiations with Great Britain.

1784 - Served as the second Secretary of Foreign Affairs, an office which after 1789 became Secretary of State.

1789 - President George Washington appointed Jay as the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and he was easily approved. 

1794 - He negotiated the Jay Treaty with the British. A leader of the new Federalist party, Jay was elected Governor of New York state.

1795 - He diplomatic skills were again called upon for peace negotiations with Great Britain to resolve continuing conflicts in and around U.S. territories.

1801 - Resigned from the Supreme Court and served two terms as New York's governor.

1802 - He declined and retired to the life of a gentleman farmer in Westchester County, New York.

1829 - Died at home on May 15, 1829. He was buried in a family plot on his son Peter's farm in Rye, New York.