Robert R. Livingston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Livingston
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| 7th United States Minister to France | |
| In office December 6, 1801 – November 18, 1804 |
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| President | Thomas Jefferson |
| Preceded by | Charles Cotesworth Pinckney |
| Succeeded by | John Armstrong |
| 1st United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office October 20, 1781 – June 4, 1783 |
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| Appointed by | Congress of the Confederation |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | John Jay |
| 1st Chancellor of New York | |
| In office July 30, 1777 – June 30, 1801 |
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| Governor | George Clinton John Jay |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | John Lansing |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 27, 1746 New York City, New York, British America |
| Died | February 26, 1813 (aged 66) Clermont, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse |
Mary Stevens
(m. 1770) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Robert Livingston (father) Edward Livingston (brother) Robert Livingston (grandfather) |
| Education | Columbia University (BA) |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
Robert Robert Livingston (November 27, 1746 – February 26, 1813) was an important American lawyer, politician, and diplomat from New York. He was one of the Founding Fathers who helped create the United States. People often called him "The Chancellor" because he held a very important legal job in New York for 25 years. He was part of the group that wrote the Declaration of Independence. He also swore in George Washington as the first president in 1789.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Robert Livingston was born on November 27, 1746. He was the oldest son of Judge Robert Livingston and Margaret Beekman Livingston. His family was very wealthy and lived in the Hudson River Valley.
He had several brothers and sisters. His younger brother, Edward Livingston, also became a U.S. Minister to France. His sister Gertrude Livingston married Governor Morgan Lewis. Another sister, Alida Livingston, married John Armstrong, Jr., who later took over Robert's job as U.S. Minister to France.
Livingston graduated from King's College (now Columbia University) in 1765. He became a lawyer in 1773.
Important Roles in Government
Robert Livingston held many important positions throughout his life.
Recorder of New York City
In October 1773, Livingston was made the recorder of New York City. This was a legal job. However, he soon sided with the Patriots who wanted independence from Britain. Because of this, he was replaced just a few months later.
New York's First Chancellor
On July 30, 1777, Livingston became the first Chancellor of New York. This was the highest judge in the state. He held this important job for almost 24 years. People knew him simply as "The Chancellor." Even after he left the job, they still called him by this respectful title.
Swearing in President Washington
In 1789, Livingston had the honor of swearing in George Washington as the first President of the United States. This happened on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, which was then the nation's capital.
Political Views
In 1789, Livingston joined the Jeffersonian Republicans. This group later became known as the Democratic-Republicans. He did not agree with the Federalist Party and their ideas. He even ran for governor of New York in 1798 but did not win.
Helping Draft the Declaration of Independence
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On June 11, 1776, Robert Livingston was chosen for a special committee. This group, called the Committee of Five, was tasked with writing the Declaration of Independence. The committee decided that Thomas Jefferson would write the first draft.
The committee reviewed Jefferson's draft and made many changes. They presented the revised draft to Congress on June 28, 1776. Before Livingston could sign the final Declaration, he was called back to New York. His cousin, Philip Livingston, signed the document in his place.
U.S. Minister to France
When Thomas Jefferson became President in 1801, he appointed Livingston as the U.S. Minister to France. Livingston served in this role from 1801 to 1804. During this time, he played a key part in negotiating the Louisiana Purchase.
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a huge deal where the United States bought a massive amount of land from France in 1803. This purchase nearly doubled the size of the United States. After the agreement was signed, Livingston famously said:
We have lived long but this is the noblest work of our whole lives ... The United States take rank this day among the first powers of the world.
Steamboat Development
While in France, Livingston met Robert Fulton. Together, they worked on developing the first successful steamboat. This boat was called the North River Steamboat. Its home port was at the Livingston family estate, Clermont Manor. On its first trip, the steamboat traveled from New York City to Albany in less than 60 hours. This journey used to take almost a week by sailboat. In 1811, Fulton and Livingston also became members of the Erie Canal Commission.
Freemasonry
Livingston was a Freemason. In 1784, he became the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York. He held this title until 1801. The Grand Lodge's library in Manhattan is named after him. The Bible he used to swear in President Washington is still used today for important ceremonies.
Personal Life
On September 9, 1770, Robert Livingston married Mary Stevens. She was the daughter of Continental Congressman John Stevens. After they married, he built a home called Belvedere. Sadly, it was burned down by the British Army in 1777. Later, in 1794, he built a new home called New Clermont, which was later renamed Arryl House. This name was a phonetic spelling of his initials, "RRL." It was known as a very comfortable home and had a library with four thousand books.
Robert and Mary had two daughters:
- Elizabeth Stevens Livingston (1780–1829)
- Margaret Maria Livingston (1783–1818)
Robert Livingston passed away on February 26, 1813. He was buried in the family vault at St. Paul's Church in Tivoli, New York.
Legacy and Honors
Robert Livingston is remembered in several ways:
- Livingston County, Kentucky, and Livingston County, New York, are named after him.
- A statue of Livingston is in the National Statuary Hall collection at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Each state chooses two people to be honored there.
- He is also included in the sculpture on the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., which honors the Committee of Five.
- The Robert Livingston high-rise building at 85 Livingston St. in Brooklyn is named for him.
Images for kids
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Robert Livingston
Issue of 1904 -
Map of Louisiana Purchase
Issue of 1904 -
The Jefferson Memorial's pediment and its sculpture of the Committee of Five
See also
In Spanish: Robert R. Livingston para niños
- Livingston family
