John Jay

John Jay II (1817-1894)

John Jay (2nd) was also an American lawyer and diplomat, son of William
Jay and a grandson of Chief Justice John Jay 1st (1745-1829). He was born in New
York City in 23 June 1817, graduated at Columbia College in 1836, and was admitted to the bar
three years later. He early became intensely interested and followed his father in
the anti-slavery movement, and while still in college (1834) was president of the
New York Young Men's Anti-slavery Society.

He was active in the Free Soil Party movement, presided at several of its
conventions, and was once its candidate for Attorney General of New York.

In 1854 he organized the series of popular meetings in the Broadway Tabernacle
and the next year was prominently identified with the founding of the Republican
Party From 1869 to 1875 he was the United States Minister to Austria-Hungary.

In 1877 Secretary Sherman appointed him chairman of the special commission
to investigate Chester A. Arthur's administration of the New York Custom House.

In 1883 Gov. Grover Cleveland appointed him the Republican member of the
New York Civil Service Commission, of which he later became president He
published many books and pamphlets on slavery and other issues and, in 1889,
was president of the American Historical Association.

He died on 5 May 1894 and is buried in John Jay Cemetery, Rye, Westchester County,
New York, USA.