Philip Livingston   [1716-1778]

Philip Livingston was one of two Dutch American signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. The other Dutch American signatory was Lewis Morris. Both signers do not carry Dutch names, but both had Dutch American mothers, who are clearly linked to the original Dutch settlers in New York State. Livingston’s mother was Catherina Van Brugh of Albany. Her father was Albany, New York mayor Pieter Van Brugh, who thus was the grandfather of Philip Livingston.

Philip Livingston was born in the well-to-do and prominent Albany Livingston family. His family controlled a large landholding grant, called Livingston Manor. Philip had the benefit of a good education and graduated from Yale College in 1737. He became prominent as a merchant, and was elected an alderman of New York City in 1754. Livingston became active as a promoter of efforts to fund and raise troops for the War of Independence. In 1759, he was elected to the New York [then a colony] House of Representatives. In October 1765, he attended the Stamp Act Congress, which was a prelude to the American Revolution. When New York established a rebel government in 1775, Livingston became the President of the Provincial Convention, and a delegate to the Continental Congress. In the Continental Congress, he strongly supported separation from Britain, and in 1776 he joined other Continental Congress delegates in signing the Declaration of Independence.

Following the declaration of independence signing, and the adoption of the New York State Constitution, Livingston was elected to the New York State Senate in 1777, while at the same time continuing to serve in the Continental Congress. His health deteriorated early in 1778, and he passed away at the rather young age of 62 on June 12, 1778. He was interred in a tomb in Prospect Hill Cemetery, in York County, Pennsylvania. It was unfortunate that he was not able to see the results of American Independence, a cause he had fought so valiantly for.

Philip Livingston was a promoter of higher education and was one of the founders of King’s College, which later became Columbia University. He was married to Christina Ten Broeck, a great grand daughter of Albany, New York mayor Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck. The couple had nine children, consisting of Philip Livingston, Richard [Dirck} Livingston, Catherine Livingston, Margaret Livingston, Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Sarah Livingston, Abraham Livingston, Alida Livingston, and Henry Philip Livingston.

 

REFERENCES

Philip Livingston, Signer of Declaration of Independence                                         

Philip Livingston, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Livingston

Livingston, Philip [1716-1778], http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000369

Declaration of Independence Signer Philip Livingston and Christina Ten Broeck,                                              
http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/bios/signerphiliplivingston.htm

 

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