Philip Livingston

Livingston was active and prosperous,

    large home and much land did he buy;

                            But in the War and far away,

                        his home wasn't his to occupy.   

     

        New York, settled by the Dutch, paid little heed to book education; and, for many years, NY had no college up until 1754.  Philip was sent away to Yale and graduated with distinction, turned his talents toward business pursuits whereupon he was quite successful; and he was also very civic minded.  "A member of the landed gentry, merchant Philip Livingston lived a princely life and devoted much energy to civic affairs and philanthropic enterprises..."  Robert G. Ferris (editor), Signers of the Declaration: Historic Places Commemorating the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, published by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service: Washington, D.C. (revised edition 1975), page 96-98. 

       In 1746 he helped in founding the Livingston professorship of divinity at Yale and in establishing the King's college.  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.       

        In 1754, Philip was elected an alderman in the city of New York and was re-elected to that office for nine straight years.  Later, he and his brother Robert were elected to the General Assembly where they both served in defeating France in contests for frontier fortresses.  It was during this time that Philip began corresponding with Edmund Burke, agent for New York, enlightening Mr. Burke toward the views of Americans.

        Philip was known to very early take a stand against the unrighteous acts of the British, and he was most influential in the Assembly until toryism took over the province.  In 1774, he was elected delegate to the first Continental Congress and was on the committee that prepared the address to the people of Great Britain, "an address replete with bold and original thoughts, perspicuous propositions and convincing arguments." 

        "...When his service requires it, we shall ever be ready to exert ourselves with loyalty, fidelity, and zeal; and as we have always complied, in the most dutiful manner, with every requisition made by his directions, we, with all humility, hope that his majesty, who, and whose ancestors, have long been the guardians of British liberty, will so protect us in our rights, as to prevent our falling into the abject state of being forever hereafter incapable of doing what can merit either his distinction or approbation.  Such must be the deplorable state of that wretched people, who (being taxed by a power subordinate to none, and in a great degree unacquainted with their circumstances) can call nothing their own.  This we speak with the greatest deference to the wisdom and justice of the British parliament, in which we confide.  Depressed with this prospect of inevitable ruin, by the alarming information we have from home, neither we nor, our constituents can attend to improvements, conducive either to the interests of our mother country, or of this colony....."

            In 1775, there were too many tories in New York for there to be any election for delegates to the second Congress.  Instead there was a Provincial Convention giving Philip and Robert the power to act as representatives for their state.  When independence was proposed, Livingston firmly supported it; and the Provincial Assembly of New York sanctioned his vote.  It was at his residence in New York that Washington held the council of war to decide on retreat from Long Island in 1776.   

         By 1777, Philip had begun to experience difficulties with his health but he, nevertheless, in 1778, accepted a seat in Congress to which he was elected.  He didn't really want to leave his home and family for duty because he felt it might be for the last time.  It turns out that he was correct as he was on his death bed a short while later.  His son Henry, then residing in the family of General Washington, was by his side as he breathed his last at age 62.    

        "He was a firm believer in the great truths of the Christian system, and a sincere and humble follower of the divine Redeemer."  Rev. Charles A. Goodrich Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence. New York: William Reed & Co., 1856. Pages 186-192.

   PHILIP LIVINGSTON, The Signer (1716 - 1778)  The 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Vol.6, p.457 
http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/livingston/livingston.htm#signer   Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Charles A Goodrich, Hartford, R. G. H. Huntington, 1842 

Copyright © 2003, InterMedia Enterprises http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/bios/signerphiliplivingston.htm  http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/bios/philiplivingston2ndlord.htm Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans.

But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk.  And so ordain I in all churches.

 I Corinthians 7:17

The Old Merchants of New York, Vol 3, 1864

April, 1768 TO BE SOLD BY PHILLIP LIVINGSTON, AT his store in the New Dock, near the Ferry stairs, Irish linens, three-quarter Dowlass printed and pencilled calico, newest pattern of purple and other calicoes, ground chintz, black and colored Persians, cambrics and lawns, diaper table-cloths, striped Hollands, double Silesias, silk, and large towels, black and blue peelong, ballandine, sewing silk of all colors, check of all sorts usually imported, fine black and colored worsted patterns for breeches, tommies, durants, and shakoons, fustians, Turkey stripes, burr dots, silk damascus for summer vests, writing paper by the ream, Russia duck, powder blue, best vermillion, fete hats, bound hats for seamen, brushes of all sorts, whitewash brushes, marble chimney-pieces and squares, marble hearths very beautifully variegated with different colors, double and single refined loaf sugar, lump and Muscovado sugar, tea kettles, also with rivetted spouts, brass kettles for the Indian trade with iron ware suitable for the same, new cable ten and a-half inch ninety fathoms, twenty penny, twenty-four d., and thirty d. nails, the very best harbor twine for fishing nets, seven by nine and six by eight crown window glass, Geneva in cases and in cask, brandy, a parcel of choice spermaceti candles, Comeynekars (cheese) or Leyden cheese, a few barrels of choice beef and pork, choice new rice, coffee in barrels, Jamaica nutmegs by the hogshead, sugar bakers twine, quart bottles in hampers, a complete assortment of buttons, shoe and knee buckles of all sorts, Congo and Bohea tea, snuff boxes, ivory and brass combs, needles, knitting pins, split bone knives and forks, sham buck ditto, brass and steel thimbles, ginger and rape oil in jugs, heart or club steel, fine cordials in cases, and a cargo of choice Teneriffe wine just imported.