Melanie Stephenson, age 17, of Asbury Park, N.J., for her question:

WHO WAS THE FIRST CHIEF JUSTICE?

First chief justice of the United States Supreme Court was a man named John Jay.  Along with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, Jay had negotiated the treaty of peace with England at the end of the Revolutionary War and he also had helped Alexander Hamilton and James Madison get the Constitution ratified.

New York sent Jay as its representative to the First and Second Continental Congresses. He was president of the Continental Congress from December, 1778 to September, 1779. He then went to Spain as minister and also helped frame the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

Jay was secretary of foreign affairs from 1784 until the government was organized under the Constitution. Then President George Washington appointed him chief justice and he served in this position from 1790 until 1795, resigning to become governor of New York.

Jay understood what was necessary to keep the nation going during its difficult early yer8 and he had the courage to make unpopular decisions. Such leaders as Washington and Jefferson valued Jay's quick mind and skill in diplomacy.