(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.

Clarence Thomas (left) with President George H.W. Bush. 

After a bitter confirmation hearing, the U.S. Senate voted 52 to
48 to confirm Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In July 1991, Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to
sit on the Supreme Court, announced his retirement after 34
years.

President George H.W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas, a
43-year-old African American judge known for his conservative
beliefs, to fill the seat.

The Judiciary Act of 1789 was passed by Congress and signed
by President George Washington, establishing the Supreme
Court of the United States as a tribunal made up of six justices
who were to serve on the court until death or retirement.

That day, President Washington nominated John Jay to preside
as chief justice, and John Rutledge, William Cushing, John Blair,
Robert Harrison and James Wilson to be associate justices. On September 26, all six appointments were confirmed by the U.S.
Senate.

GEORGE WASHINGTON (1732 – 1799)

John Jay ( 1745 – May 17, 1829)

  
MIKE GRACIA

   
Ringo Starr (Sir Richard Starkey) the former
drummer with The Beatles is 84 today.

TIM MAGUIRE

The concept of "Miranda rights" was enshrined in U.S. law following
the 1966 Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court decision, which found
that the Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights of Ernesto Arturo Miranda
had been violated during his arrest and trial for armed robbery, kidnapping, and rape of a young woman.

Miranda was subsequently retried and convicted.

On January 31, 1976, a fight erupted at the Amapola Bar at 233
South 2nd Street in downtown Phoenix in which Miranda was
stabbed. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Banner Good
Samaritan Medical Center. He was 34.

The grave of Ernesto Arturo Miranda in the City of Mesa Cemetery.