Original: John Jay ( December 12 , 1745 May 17,1829 ) was an American politician , statesman , revolutionary , diplomat , a Founding Father of the United States , President of the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1779 and , from 1789 to 1795 , the first Chief Justice of the United States .
Simplified: John Jay ( December 12 , 1745 -- May 17 , 1829 ) was an American politician , statesman , revolutionary , diplomat , a Supreme Court Chief Justice , and a Founding Father of the United States .