Which US Supreme Court Chief Justice was sent to negotiate a controversial treaty with the British to prevent a second war?

ANSWER: John Jay


Answer

The first US Supreme Court justice, John Jay, negotiated the "Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation between his Brittanic Majesty and the United States of America" (1795), more commonly known as Jay's Treaty (or the Treaty of London), signed on November 19, 1794 and ratified in June 1795.

Explanation

After the Treaty of Paris (1783) ended the American Revolutionary War, the relationship between America and Britain deteriorated.

England continued to occupy forts in the Northwest Territory, and made a practice of seizing American ships, forcing their sailors to fight for the British military in their war against France. John Jay was sent to England as a special envoy to negotiate a solution to the tensions that appeared to be leading to another war.

The Treaty of London (Jay's Treaty), negotiated by Jay but primarily written by Alexander Hamilton, was signed November 19, 1794 and accomplished this goal. Among the treaty's provisions were an agreement from the British to abandon its American posts, to pay damages for seized ships, and to allow the United States limited access to trade in the West Indies. The treaty was considered more favorable to Britain's interests, however, creating a storm of controversy at home in the US.

John Rutledge, who successfully lobbied Washington for the Chief Justice position on the Supreme Court after Jay resigned, created a small scandal by burning John Jay in effigy in the streets of Charleston, SC.