John Jay ( December 12 , 1745 â `` May 17 , 1829 ) was an American politician , statesman , revolutionary , diplomat , a Supreme Court Chief Justice , and a Founding Father of the United States . John Jay ( December 12 , 1745 -- May 17 , 1829 ) was an American politician , statesman , revolutionary , diplomat , a Founding Father of the United States , and the first Chief Justice of the United States ( 1789 â `` 95 ) .