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Secretary of Foreign Affairs Under the Continental Congress

Creation of this Position

Name: Robert R. Livingston
State of Residency: New York
Appointment: Oct 20, 1781
Termination of Appointment: Jun 1783

Name: John Jay
State of Residency: New York
Appointment: May 7, 1784
Termination of Appointment: Mar 4, 1789
Note: Following the organization of the government under the Constitution, Mar 4, 1789, Jay continued in charge of foreign relations, informally supervising the Department of Foreign Affairs upon its creation, Jul 27, 1789, and the Department of State from the adoption of that name for the Department (effective Sep 15, 1789) until Jefferson took office as Secretary of State Mar 22, 1790. Jay had meanwhile (Sep 26, 1789) been appointed Chief Justice.

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Creation of Position: The Continental Congress voted on Jan 10, 1781, to establish a Department of Foreign Affairs; on Aug 10 of that year, it elected Robert R. Livingston as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. The Secretary's duties involved corresponding with U.S. representatives abroad and with ministers of foreign powers. The Secretary was also charged with transmitting Congress' instructions to U.S. agents abroad and was authorized to attend sessions of Congress. A further Act of Feb 22, 1782, allowed the Secretary to ask and respond to questions during sessions of the Continental Congress.

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