Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/486

 LIVINGSTON

LIVINGSTON

on Brooklyn Heights, N.Y., that A\'ashington held the council of war that decided on the re- treat from Long Island in 1776. He was a mem- ber of the state assembly and in May, 1777, was cliosen state senator. He was one of the founders of the New York Society library in 1754 : of the chamber of commerce in 1770 ; and one of the governors of the New York hospital in 1771. He was prominent in the establishment of King's college, and in 1746 he aided in founding the Liv- ingston professorship of divinity at Yale. He was married to Christina, daughter of Richard Ten Broeck, recorder of Albany. He died while in attendance at the 6th session of the Continental congress, at York, Pa., June 12, 1778.

LIVINGSTON, Robert, first lord of the manor, was born at Ancruin, Roxburghshire, Scotland, Dec. 13, 1654 ; son of Dr. John Livingston (1603- 1672), a Presbyterian minister, who was banished from Scotland in 1663, on account of his non- conformist views, and went to Holland soon after the restoration of Charles II. Robert accompanied his father in his flight to Rotterdam, and immi- grated to America in 1673, and after spending part of a year in Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay colony, removed to Albany, N.Y., where he was secretary of the commissaries who superintended the affairs of Albany. Sclienectadj% and the parts adjacent, 1675-86. He was married in 1683 to Alida, daughter of Philip Pietersen Schuyler, and widow of Nicholas Van Rensselaer. In 1686 he received from Governor Thomas Dougan a grant of land comprising large parts of wliat was sub- sequently set off as Dutchess county, and the grant was confirmed by royal charter from George I., who erected the manor and lordship of Living- ston. Robert Livingston was appointed to pro- ceed to New York with his brother-in-law, Peter Schuyler, to obtain a charter for the manor from Governor Dougan, under which charter he was town clerk, 1686-1721. In 1689 he attached him- self to tlie anti-Leisler faction. He was secretary of the convention held at Albany, Oct. 25, 1689, which, while it acknowledged the sovereignty of William and Mary, opposed Leisler"s proceedings. When Richard Petty, sheriff of Albany, reported to Leisler that Livingston favored the Prince of Orange, Leisler ordered Livingston's arrest, and the latter retired to one of the neighboring pro- vinces until the arrival of Sloughter, in March, 1691. In 1694 he made a voyage to England, was shipwrecked on the coast of Portugal, and obliged to travel through Spain and France by land. He returned to New York in 1696, accompanied by liis nephew, Robert Livingston. While in Eng- land he was appointed by royal commission, dated Jan. 27, 1695-96, commissioner of excise, receiver of quit rents, town clerk, clerk of the peace, clerk of the common pleas for the city and

county of Albany, and secretary for tlie govern- ment of the Indians in New York. He ob- tained for Robert Kidd a commission to rid the American seas of buccaneers ; but Kidd himself turned pirate and the expedition failed. In Sep- tember, 1696, the charge of alienation was pi-e- ferred against him by the council, but through the influence of Lord Bellomont, who arrived in April, 1698, to take charge of the government, he wa& ai^pointed one of the council, September, 1698, and in the autumn of 1700, was reinstated in all his offices. He was accused by the Leislerian com- mission of appropriating the public money for his own use, and of employing improper influ- ences to induce the Indians to favor his going to England on behalf of their interests at the court. He refused to exonerate himself of the charge by oath and on April 27, 1701, his estates were con- fiscated and he was suspended from the council board. Through the intercession of Lord Corn- bury he was vindicated. On Feb. 2, 1703, he re- gained his estates, and in September, 1705, he was. reinstated in his former offices. He was elected a member of the assembly from Albany in 1711, and from his manor, 1716-25, serving as speaker,. 1718-25, when he retired on account of ill-health. He died in Albany, N. Y., April 20. 1725.

LIVINGSTON, Robert R, jurist, was born in New Yoi'k city, in August, 1718; son of Robert and Margaret (Howerden) Livingston, and grandson of Robert and Alida (Schuyler) Van Rensselaer Livingston. He received a superior education and practised law in New York city. He was judge of the admiralty court, 1760-63 ; justice of the colonial supreme court, 1763; member of th& provincial assembly, 1759-68 ; a delegate to the stamp act congress of 1765 ; commissioner to de- cide upon the boundary line between New York and Massachusetts, 1767, and again in 1773, and a member of the committee of one hundred in 1775. He married Margaret, daughter of Col. Henry and Janet (Livingston) Beekman. He died at his country seat, Clermont, N.Y., Dec. y, 1775.

LIVINGSTON, Robert R, statesman, was born in New York city, Nov. 27, 1746 ; son and second child of Robert R and Margaret (Beekman) Liv- ingston. He was graduated from King's college,. A.B., 1765, A.M., 1768; studied law under Will- iam Smith and William Livingston ; was admit- ted to the bar in 1773, and formed a partnership with John Jay, with whom he practised in New York city. He was recorder of the city of New York by appointment of Governor Try on, 1773- 75, being obliged to relinquish the position on account of his outspoken espousal of the patriot cause in 1775. He was a member of the provin- cial assembly in 1775 ; was a delegate to the Con- tinental congress, 1775-77 and 1779-81, and was a member of the committee of five, comprised