(FOX NEWS) – Founding Father John Jay, a towering
figure among the intellectual giants who forged the
nation, was sworn in as first chief justice of the
Supreme Court of the United States on this day in
history, Oct. 19, 1789.

The New York native held the title until resigning in
1795, among the shortest tenures for the prestigious
lifetime appointment.

Only 16 other people have held the title of Supreme
Court chief justice in the 227 years since.

Hopelessly trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, British General
Lord Cornwallis surrendered 8,000 British soldiers and
seamen to a  larger Franco-American force on October
19, 1781, effectively bringing an end to the American
Revolution.