Augustus Jay


Augustus Jay was an American diplomat and member of the prominent Jay family.

Early life

Jay was born on October 17, 1850 in Washington, D.C. He was the only child of Peter Augustus Jay and Josephine Jay. His mother died on January 3, 1852, at just twenty-two years old. After her death, his father committed to his sole care before his death three years later on October 31, 1855 in New York City. His paternal grandfather was 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.
Jay graduated from Harvard College in 1871 and from Columbia Law School in 1876.

Career

Although admitted to the New York bar, Jay never practiced law, instead he entered the diplomatic service. From 1885 to 1893, he was Secretary of the American Legation in Paris. On his retirement as Secretary of the American Legation in Paris, the French Government made him an officer of the Legion of Honor.
After they returned from France, they spent much time in Newport, Rhode Island where Jay was one of the most prominent New York residents. In Newport, he was a stockholder of the Newport Reading Room and a member of the Newport Fishing Club. They owned Oakwold, located at 65 Old Beach Road, and designed in 1883 by architect Clarence Sumner Luce.

Personal life

On October 3, 1876, Jay was married to Emily Astor Kane, a daughter of DeLancey Kane and Louisa Dorothea Kane. Emily, a descendant of John Jacob Astor, was the sister of DeLancey Astor Kane, Commodore S. Nicholson Kane, John Innes Kane, Sybil Kent Kane, and Rough Rider Woodbury Kane, all cousins of John Jacob Astor IV. Together, Augustus and Emily were the parents of:
He was a member of the Knickerbocker Club, Union Club, and University Club of New York.
Jay died of heart disease on Christmas Day 1919, at his home, 960 Park Avenue in Manhattan. After a funeral at Trinity Church, he was buried in the John Jay Cemetery in Rye like his father before him. His widow left an estate valued at $450,000 upon her death.

Descendants

Through his eldest son Peter, he was a grandfather of Emily Kane Jay and Susan Mary Alsop.
Through his second son DeLancey, he was a grandfather of six: Elizabeth Morgan Etnier Hollins, Peter Jay, Sybil Kane Waldron, Theodora Moran Stillman Rahv, Augusta Huffman, and Katharine Archer Morgan Bacon.