John Jay (December 23, 1745 – May 17, 1829)
(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.
On the night of May 14, 1829, Jay was stricken with palsy,
probably caused by a stroke. He lived for three more days,
dying in Bedford, New York.
Jay’s childhood home in Rye, New York is a New York
State Historic Site and Westchester County Park.
