John Jay
...gan, Jay became a member of the New York Committee of Correspondence, the Continental Congress, and the New York Provincial Congress. He was given diplomatic missions, appointed to high offices, and elected to others, which gave him opportunities to influence our new government. New York owes a lot to John Jay for what it has become today. Jay was New York's representative at the First and Second Continental Congress. He was deeply involved in the development of a new state government for New York. In 1777 he attended the New York constitutional convention, and was chosen to draft its constitution. He then served as the first Chief Justice of the state. He also served as a member of the state Council of Safety, acting as the sole council when the Legislature was not assembled. Later, Jay found out that while he was in Great Britain he had been elected Governor of New York. Alexander Hamilton had secured his election while try...