author
John Jay
1745–1829
A key architect of the early United States, he helped secure peace with Britain, shaped the new nation's diplomacy, and became the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. His career moved easily between law, politics, and public service at a moment when the country was still taking shape.
2 Audiobooks
The Federalist Papers
by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison
The Federalist Papers
by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison
About the author
Born in New York City in 1745, John Jay studied at King's College, later Columbia, and trained as a lawyer before the American Revolution. As the break with Britain deepened, he became an important voice in revolutionary politics and soon took on major public roles.
Jay served in the Continental Congress, helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War, and later worked as secretary for foreign affairs under the Articles of Confederation. He also wrote several of the Federalist Papers, arguing for the U.S. Constitution and a stronger national government.
In the new republic, Jay became the first chief justice of the United States, then left the Court to negotiate the controversial Jay Treaty with Great Britain. He later served as governor of New York, and his long public life made him one of the most influential, if sometimes quieter, founders of the nation.