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Peter Augustus Jay (diplomat)

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This article is about the American diplomat. For other uses, see Peter Augustus Jay (disambiguation).
Peter Augustus Jay
Jay in 1923
United States Ambassador to Argentina
In office
September 24, 1925 – December 30, 1926
PresidentCalvin Coolidge
Preceded byJohn W. Riddle
Succeeded byRobert Woods Bliss
United States Ambassador to Romania
In office
June 30, 1921 – May 9, 1925
PresidentWarren G. Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Preceded byCharles J. Vopicka
Succeeded byWilliam S. Culbertson
United States Ambassador to El Salvador
In office
February 10, 1921 – April 28, 1921
PresidentWoodrow Wilson
Preceded byFrank D. Arnold
Succeeded byMontgomery Schuyler Jr.
United States Ambassador to Egypt
In office
November 28, 1910 – October 8, 1913
PresidentWilliam Howard Taft
Preceded byLewis M. Iddings
Succeeded byOlney Arnold
Personal details
Born(1877-08-23)August 23, 1877
Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
DiedOctober 18, 1933(1933-10-18) (aged 56)
Washington, D.C.
Spouse
Susan Alexander McCook
​
​
(m. 1909)​
RelationsPeter Augustus Jay (grandfather)
Children2, including Susan Mary Alsop
Parent(s)Augustus Jay
Emily Astor Kane
EducationEton College
Alma materHarvard University (AB)

Peter Augustus Jay (August 23, 1877 – October 18, 1933) was an American diplomat who served as U.S. General Consul to Egypt, U.S. Minister to El Salvador and Romania and U.S. Ambassador to Argentina.[1]

Early life

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Jay was born on August 23, 1877, in Newport, Rhode Island, to Augustus Jay (1850–1919)[2] and Emily Astor (née Kane) Jay (1854–1932).[3] His younger brother was DeLancey Kane Jay (1881–1941).[4][5]

His paternal grandparents were Josephine (née Pearson) Jay and Peter Augustus Jay, himself the son of Peter Augustus Jay, a member of the New York State Assembly and Recorder of New York City, and grandson of John Jay, Founding Father and first United States Chief Justice.[6] His maternal grandparents were DeLancey Kane and Louisa Dorothea (née Langdon) Kane.[7] His maternal uncles included DeLancey Astor Kane, Commodore S. Nicholson Kane, and Rough Rider Woodbury Kane, all cousins of John Jacob Astor IV.[5]

In 1880, Jay was painted by John Singer Sargent.[8] Jay studied at Eton College in England and graduated from Harvard University with an A.B. in 1900.[9]

Career

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In 1902, he began a career with the U.S. Foreign Service as the third secretary of the American embassy in Paris followed by service in Constantinople as second secretary.[10] He was later promoted to secretary and when the legation was changed to an embassy, he continued as secretary until June 1907 when he became Chargé d'Affaires in Tokyo on July 7, 1908, where he received full powers to "exchange ratifications for the protection of inventions, designs trademarks and copyrights."[10] He served in Japan until December 21, 1909 when he was appointed by President William Howard Taft as Consul General to Egypt in Cairo. He presented his credentials on November 28, 1910, and left his post on October 8, 1913.[1]

On May 4, 1920, Jay was appointed U.S. Minister to El Salvador by President Woodrow Wilson, serving from February 10, 1921, until April 28, 1921.[1] After being appointed on April 18, 1921 by President Warren G. Harding, he served from June 30, 1921 to May 9, 1925, as U.S. Minister to Romania, where he assisted in negotiating that country's repayment terms of $42,000,0000 for wartime and post World War I development loans.[11] On March 18, 1925, he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Argentina by President Calvin Coolidge.[1] He presented his credentials on September 24, 1925, and was present on May 16, 1926 when a bomb exploded at the door to the US embassy, an action that might have been a protest of the guilty verdicts in the Sacco and Vanzetti trials.[11]

Later life

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While serving in Buenos Aires, his elder daughter Emily died following sleeping sickness and an operation for appendicitis. Two days later, on December 30, 1926, he resigned his post and returned to Washington, D.C.[11][12] In 1928, he was appointed the American member of the Permanent International Commission established under the treaty between the United States and Spain on September 15, 1914.[10]

Personal life

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On March 16, 1909, Jay was married to Susan Alexander McCook, the daughter of Civil War officer and prominent attorney John James McCook and granddaughter of Daniel McCook of the "Fighting McCooks". Together, they were the parents of Emily Kane Jay (1911–1926) and Susan Mary Alsop (1918–2004).[10]

He was a member of the Metropolitan Club of Washington, the Knickerbocker Club, the Harvard Club of New York and the Racquet and Tennis Club of New York.[10] The Jays also owned a home, Breakwater, in the Bar Harbor, Maine.[13]

Jay died at his home, 1815 Q Street in Washington, D.C., on October 18, 1933.[10][14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Peter Augustus Jay – People – Department History". history.state.gov. Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs United States Department of State. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  2. ^ "JAY ESTATE $1,027,829.; Robes and Portrait of Chief Justice Among the Bequests". The New York Times. 24 May 1921. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  3. ^ "MRS. JAY LEFT $450,000.; Will Filed at Newport Names Sons, Peter and Delancey, Legatees". The New York Times. 23 December 1932. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. ^ Patten, Bill (2008). My Three Fathers: And the Elegant Deceptions of My Mother, Susan Mary Alsop. PublicAffairs. p. 9. ISBN 9780786721719. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b "MRS. AUGUSTUS JAY DIES IN 79TH YEAR; Widow of Diplomat Whose Ancestor, John Jay, Was First Chief Justice of U.S. LONG A SOCIETY LEADER | Descended From Gov. Langdon of New Hampshire, Revolutionary Soldier, and John Jacob Astor". The New York Times. 15 December 1932. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  6. ^ "JAY ESTATE GOES TO FAMILY; Will Filed in Newport Leaves Half to Widow and Half to Sons". The New York Times. January 27, 1920. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  7. ^ "COL. KANE'S WILL PROBATED; Personal Estate Is About $65,000 – His Widow Chief Beneficiary". The New York Times. 11 May 1915. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Peter Augustus Jay". npg.si.edu. Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  9. ^ Summerall, Charles (2010). The Way of Duty, Honor, Country: The Memoir of General Charles Pelot Summerall. University Press of Kentucky. p. 261. ISBN 978-0813126197. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "PETER A. JAY DEAD; LONG A DIPLOMAT; Descendant of the First Chief Justice of U. S. an Ambas- sador to Argentina". The New York Times. 19 October 1933. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  11. ^ a b c Rechcigl, Jr., Miloslav (2013). Czech American Timeline: Chronology of Milestones in the History of Czechs in America. Author House. p. 249. ISBN 9781481757065. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Milestones: Jan. 3, 1927". Time. 1927-01-03. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  13. ^ "P.A. JAY ESTATE TO FAMILY.; Diplomat Left Property to Wife and Daughter". The New York Times. 27 October 1933. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  14. ^ "P.A. JAY ESTATE $737,060.; Only a Fraction of Sum Diplomat Left Taxable in This State". The New York Times. 22 November 1934. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peter Augustus Jay (diplomat).
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by U.S. Ambassador to Argentina
1925–1926 		Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. Minister to Romania
1921–1925 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Frank D. Arnold
 U.S. Minister to El Salvador
1921-1921 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Lewis M. Iddings
 U.S. General Consul to Egypt
1910–1913 		Succeeded by
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