H. BROCKHOLST
LIVINGSTON was born in New York, New York, on November
25, 1757. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey
(now Princeton University) in 1774 and planned to study
law. With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, however,
Livingston joined the Continental Army. Livingston participated
in the siege of Ticonderoga, served as an aide to General
Benedict Arnold in the Saratoga campaign, and witnessed
General John Burgoynes surrender in 1777. In 1779,
he served on a diplomatic mission to Spain as private
secretary to John Jay, who later became the first Chief
Justice of the United States. As the War drew to a close,
Livingston resumed the study of law in Albany, New York.
He was admitted to the bar in 1783 and settled in New
York, New York, where he practiced law. From 1784 until
his death he served as a Trustee and Treasurer of Columbia
University. In 1786, Livingston was elected to the New
York Assembly and served for three years. He was appointed
to the New York Supreme Court in 1802 and served for
five years. President Thomas Jefferson nominated Livingston
to the Supreme Court of the United States on December
13, 1806, and the Senate confirmed the appointment on
December 17, 1806. He served on the Supreme Court for
sixteen years. Livingston died on March 18, 1823, at
the age of sixty-five.