John Jay (1686-1746) was an American lawyer, educator, and philosopher. He was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and is generally recognized as having been a leading figure in the American Enlightenment. He was born in New York City, educated at Kings College (Columbia University) and practiced law in New York City before founding a private school in his home in Manhattan. Jay was a delegate to the Continental Congress and served on the Committee of Five which drafted and presented to King George III the "Declaration of Independence," which established the United States
Read more
Jay became the first Chief Justice of the United States when John Rutledge resigned in 1795. He held that position for less than a year, but he did write one important opinion, that "The Judiciary Department is derived from the People" which opened up to the judiciary many powers it had not previously had.