BIOGRAPHICAL GAZETTEER

tution of 1777. Member, First Council of Safety, 1777. First chiefjustice, N.Y Supreme Court,
1777-79. Appointed minister plenipotentiary to Spain, 1779. Joint commissioner for ne-
gotiating peace with Great Britain, 1782-83. Returned to U.S., July 1784. Confederation
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 1784-90. President, N.Y Society for the Manumission of
Slaves, 1785-90. Co-author, "Publius": The Federalist, 1787-88; author, An Address to the People
of the State of New-York, under signature of 'A Citizen of New-York," 1788. Injured in "Doc-
tor's Riot" in New York City, April 1788. Member, state Convention, 1788; voted to ratify
Constitution. Chief Justice, U.S., 1789-95. Unsuccessful Federalist candidate for governor,
1792. As special envoy to Great Britain, negotiatedJay Treaty, 1794. Returned to U.S., 1795.
Governor, 1795-1801. Declined appointment as Chief Justice of U.S., Dec. 1800. Retired
from public life to estate in Bedford, Westchester County, 1801.
JONES, SAMUEL (1734-1819)
Antifederalist/Federalist
Born Fort Hill, Queens County. Attended school in Hempstead and worked as mer-
chant sailor. Studied law in New York City with William Smith, Jr. (who had defended
John Peter Zenger); admitted to bar, 1760. Member, New York City committee of corre-
spondence, 1774; Committee of One Hundred, 1775. But did not take up arms against
British during Revolution; moved to Conn., then to Orange County, and finally, in 1776,
to West Neck, Queens County, where he practiced law. Took oath of allegiance to state,
1786. In 1786 appointed (with Richard Varick) to codify New York laws under N.Y con-
stitution of 1777 (published in 1789). By end of 1786 opened a law office in New York
City. Member, state Assembly, 1786-90 (Queens County); state Convention, 1788 (Queens
County), where he voted to ratify Constitution; and state Senate, 1791-97. Recorder, New
York City, 1789-96. State comptroller, 1797-1807. Unsuccessful candidate for state Sen-
ate, 1800, 1806. Retired from public life to his farm at Oyster Bay.
LAMB, JOHN (1735-1800)
Antifederalist/Republican
Born New York City; son of former English criminal who had been transported to
America. Manufactured mathematical instruments and then became a wine merchant.
Leader, N.Y Sons of Liberty, 1765; continued active opposition to British policy for next
decade. Called before colonial Assembly in 1769 for libeling the house, but charges dis-
missed for lack of evidence. In response to battles of Lexington and Concord, joined
Isaac Sears to seize custom house to prevent vessels from leaving N.Y harbor. Seized
military stores at Turtle Bay (in mid-Manhattan on East River), 1775. Commissioned cap-
tain in N.Y Artillery; joined General Richard Montgomery in invasion of Canada, 1775.
Wounded (lost an eye) and captured at Quebec; paroled, 1775-76. Exchanged for British
prisoners; appointed colonel in Continental Artillery, 1777. Wounded again at Compo
Hill, Conn., 1777. Commander of artillery at West Point, 1779-80. Brevet brigadier gen-
eral, 1783. Member, state Assembly, 1784. Collector of customs for Port of N.Y, 1784-89.
Actively opposed Constitution, 1787-88; chairman, N.Y Federal Republican Committee,
1788. U.S. collector of Port of N.Y, 1789-97.
LANSING, JOHN, JR. (1754-1829)
Antifederalist/Republican
Born Albany. Brother of Abraham G. Lansing. Studied law in Albany with Robert Yates
and in New York City with James Duane; admitted to bar in Albany, 1775, and began
practice there. Military secretary to Gen. Philip Schuyler, 1776-77. Member, state Assem-
bly, 1780-84, 1786, 1788 (speaker, 1786, 1788); Confederation Congress, 1785; and com-
mission to settle western land disputes with Mass., 1786. Mayor, Albany, 1786-90. Dele-
gate, Constitutional Convention, 1787; left early and did not sign Constitution. Member,

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