John Jay was born, December 12, 1745. He spent his childhood in Rye, New York, he was taught by private tutors until he was eight. Jay then went to New Rochelle, and studied under Anglican pastor Pierre Stoupe. After three years with Pastor Stoupe, he returned home and finished his studies. In 1760 John Jay went to King’s College (which is now Columbia University); he graduated in 1764, and became a law clerk with Benjamin Kissam. In 1768 Jay was admitted to the New York bar, and in the 1771, he opened the doors to his own Law office.

John Jay was a member of the Continental Congress from 1774-76. In 1777 he helped write the New York Constitution; and, again he served with the Continental Congress, this time as the President of the Congress, from 1778-79. Jay coauthored, Along with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the Federalist Papers, which were instrumental in securing the ratification of the Constitution (1788); He was appointed the first Chief-Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court by President George Washington ( he sat on the bench from,1789-95; later he declined a reappointment as Chief-Justice by President John Adams.

He served as Governor of New York from 1795- 1801; in 1799, he signed the law that eventually emancipated the slaves of New York; the last were freed before his death. John Jay was the vice-president of the American Bible Society 1816 through 1821 and its president from 1821 through 1827; and was a member of American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. John Jay, a Christian leader, a founding father, and a great American. He died. May 17, 1829.