What was the occupation of the advocator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the largest and most comprehensive art museums in the world.
    In 1866 a group of Americans in Paris, France, gathered at a restaurant to celebrate the American Independence Day. After dinner, John Jay, a prominent lawyer gave a speech proposing to create a "national institution and gallery of art. " During the next four years, he convinced American civic leaders, art collectors, and others to support the project, and in 1870 the Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded, but it was housed in two different locations in New York City. In 1880 the museum moved to its present location in Central Park on Fifth Avenue. Many additions have since been built around this building. The north and south wings were completed in 1911 and 1913, respectively. Six additional wings have been built since 1975 to house the museum’s growing collections, to expand gallery space and educational facilities.
    The museum has collected more than three million objects in every known artistic medium, representing cultures from every part of the world, from ancient times to the present.
    Popularly known as the Met, the museum is a private institution. The museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and about five million people visit it each year. It is also a major educational institution, offering various programs for children and adults. In addition, scholars of archeology and art history conduct advanced research projects at the museum.