John Jay (December 12, 1745 – May 17, 1829) is an American statesman, Patriot, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States (1789–95).

Jay is born into a wealthy family of merchants and government officials in New York City.

He becomes a lawyer and joins the New York Committee of Correspondence, and organizes opposition to British rule.

He joins a conservative political faction that, fearing "mob rule", seeks to protect property rights and maintain the "rule of law" while resisting British violations of human rights.

Jay serves as the President of the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1779.

During and after the American Revolution, Jay is a minister (ambassador) to Spain and France, helping to fashion United States foreign policy.

His major diplomatic achievement wis to negotiate favorable trade terms with Great Britain in the Jay Treaty of 1794.

A proponent of strong, centralized government, Jay works to ratify the new Constitution in New York in 1788 by anonymously writing a few of the Federalist Papers, along with the main authors Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.

As a leader of the new Federalist Party, Jay wis the Governor of New York State from 1795 to 1801, and he becomes the state's leading opponent of slavery.

His first two attempts to end slavery fail in 1777 and in 1785, but his third attempt succeeds in 1799.

The 1799 act, a gradual emancipation act, that he signs into law, eventually brings about the emancipation of all slaves in New York before his death in 1829.