John Jay

John Jay was an American politician, statesmen, revolutionary, diplomat, and Supreme Court Chief Justice. Jay also served in the Continental Congress. Before and after the War for Independence, he served as an ambassador to Spain and France. He also helped write the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. Jay, as I said before, served as the first US Supreme Court Chief Justice from 1789 to 1795. In 1795, Jay was elected the Governor of New York, and his term ended in 1801. He was also a great leader who opposed slavery.

Birth

John Jay was born on December 12, 1745 in New York City. He was the 8th child in his family. His family tree, stretches back to French Huguenots. His father, Peter Jay, married Mary Van Cortlandt and had ten children. Unfortunately, only seven of the children survived. When Jay was but an infant, his family moved from Manhattan to Rye for a healthier environment. The main cause of their move was because two of the children had gotten smallpox.

Minister to Spain

On September 27, 1779, Jay was appointed a Minister (or ambassador) to Spain. During his time as a minister to Spain, he convinced them to loan $170,000 to the US.

Federalist Papers

Jay didn't attend the Constitutional Convention but he did help in the argument of the changes of government with Hamilton and Madison. They created the Federalists Papers, which is a series of eighty-five articles written to help convince the states to ratify the Constitution.

Funfacts!

Cities named after Jay: Jay, Maine, Jay, New York, Jay Vermont. Jay County, Indiana





Today...

Independence Day for Moldova (1999)
Constitution of Malaysia came into force (1957)
Mars made its closest approach to Earth (2003)

Rufus King (March 24, 1755-April 29, 1827)

Rufus King volunteered for militia duty during the American Revolutionary War. He was appointed a major in the army under General Sullivan in the Battle of Rhode Island.

In 1787, Rufus King was sent to the Constitutional Convention representing Massachusetts and worked on getting it ratified. He also attempted to serve as a US Senator for Massachusetts but failed. Although he did serve as a US Senator for New York.

King disagreed with slavery as well as the slave trade. In 1817, he assisted the US Senate, which was currently seeking to abolish slavery.

His family also enjoyed being involved in politics. For example, his brother William was the first governor of Maine and his other brother, Cyrus, was a US Congressman.

Fun facts!

Rufus King was born in Scarborough, Massachusetts. Although Scarborough is no longer a city in Massachusetts, but in Maine.

Click here for more information.

Reeves!

My brother's name, Tatum REEVES, leads all the way back February 25, 1832, even though he was born in March of 1998. Tatum was named after my father, Daniel REEVES. My dad was named after his dad, Alma REEVES Taylor, III. Who was named after his dad, Alma REEVES, Jr. Who was named after his dad Alma REEVES Taylor, Sr. Alma's father was Hyrum Henry Taylor. Hyrum married Eliza Jane Bird who's father's name was Taylor REEVES Bird who was born on February 25, 1832. That is why I enjoy working on my family history, because you can realize that your name or family member's name actually has a whole story to it.

Nathaniel Gorham

Nathaniel Gorham was born on May 27, 1738 and died June 11, 1796.

Gorham was the eighth President of the United States in Congress assembled. This means he was the presiding officer of the Continental Congress. The Continental congress was responsible for making the Declaration and Resolves, Continental Association, the first Petition to the King, Olive Branch Petition, Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of Confederation. When Gorham was in office they created the Articles of Confederation [later replaced by the US Constitution].

In 1771 he became a member of the Massachusetts General Court. In 1787 he represented Massachusetts in the constitutional convention.

Nicholas Gilman

Nicholas Gilman and John Langdon signed the US Constitution for New Hampshire. They both served as US Senators. Gilman even fought as a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War! Gilman and his brother John Gilman both were active in New Hampshire politics. His bother served as the Governor of New Hampshire for 14 years!

Gilman was born during the French and Indian War as the second of eight children. Gilman started working as the clerk in his father's trading house the economical struggle between the colonies and Great Britain made him realize the importance of independence.

In November of 1776 he was asked to serve as an administrative officer for the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment under the command of Colonel Alexander Scammel. In spring, 1777, Gilman and the rest of the men in the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment marched to Fort Ticonderoga to help stop the advancing British army who at the time were under the command of General John Burgoyne. Unfortunately the British troops outflanked the fort and the American troops barely made an escape during the night.

Time as Senator:
March 4th, 1805-May 2, 1814

Born: August 3, 1755 in Exeter, New Hampshire
Died: May 2, 1814 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Note- Nicholas Gilman died in office on May 2, 1814. If you look at his death date and the end of his time as a Senator, they are the same!

John Langdon

John Langdon represented New Hampshire when he signed the Constitution of the United States of America. Langdon was born on June 26, 1741 and died on September 18, 1819. Langdon was one of the first two United States Senators from New Hampshire and even served as the President pro tempore during is twelve years in Congress. Afterwards her served as the governor of New Hampshire.

Time as the President pro tempore:
April 6th, 1789-August 9th, 1789
November 5th, 1792-December 2nd, 1793


Time as US Senator:
April 6th, 1789-March 4th, 1801

Fun facts!

The town of Langdon, New Hampshire is named after John Langdon, as well as Langdon Street in Madison, Wisconsin, town with several streets named after founding fathers.

Executive Power

"The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. he shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected as follows:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress; but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector..." [US Constitution Article II section 1]

Even though the United States became an independent nation on July 4th, 1776 we didn't have a President until after the Constitution was written on September 17, 1787.

It basically says that the President and the Vice President can only serve for a four year term. Also it states how many electors can serve for each state. For example, there are two senators and eight representatives in the the state of Arizona. So there are ten members of Congress in Arizona. The number of electors in every state must match the number of senators and representatives so there are ten electors in Arizona. Article II Section 1 also states that no senator, representative, or other government official can serve as an elector.

Fun facts!
First President: George Washington
First Vice President: John Adams