Talk:John Jay

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Entrance into Law and Politics

This section says "In 1768, after reading law and being admitted to the bar of New York, Jay, with the money from the government, established a legal practice and worked there until he created his own law office in 1771." What "money from the government"? Philgoetz (talk) 03:29, 17 December 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Minister to Spain

I'll put this to the discussion before making official changes to the article. Is it really accurate to say that Jay was Minister to Spain? As the article says, his credentials were never accepted by the Spanish government, which is the official act that makes you an ambassador. Even the State Department Historian's website lists Jay as an "other nominee" instead of an official Chief of Mission. Something to think about. Thurgoodmarshallisbae (talk) 19:48, 21 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]

United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs

That page says Jay served from mid-1783 while this page has a 1784 start-date. One is mistaken, anyone know? Maybe Rjensen? Thanks. Randy Kryn (talk) 12:01, 10 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

The office of Secretary for foreign affairs had been established in 1781 and occupied by Chancellor Livingston until June of 1783 and then it remained vacant. Jay returned from Europe in July 1784 and found out that Congress had appointed him Secretary 2 months earlier. Jay wanted to decline the office but finally accepted the secretaryship on December 21 1784. He served to 1789. . His services are well covered in George Pellew John Jay (1900) pages 229-261, which is online free at https://archive.org/details/cu31924014703197 Rjensen (talk) 14:48, 10 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the (as always) full information. So the US Sec. of Foreign Affairs page is/was wrong and should be changed to reflect it. Randy Kryn (talk) 16:49, 10 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Error regarding John Jay's brother-in-law, Henry Brockholst Livingston

Under the heading "Marriage and Family" the following was included in the article: "Jay's brother-in-law Henry Brock Livingston was lost at sea through the disappearance of the Continental Navy ship Saratoga during the Revolutionary War." But this is not correct. The Correct name of his brother-in-law is Henry Brockholst Livingston and while he did serve as Jay's private secretary while he was Foreign Minister, he was not lost at sea. Eventually he became a Supreme Court Justice, serving 17 years, often following the lead of the Chief Justice John Marshall. All according to the Wikipedia Page on Henry Brockholst Livingston. Dataintegrity55 (talk) 17:08, 11 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]