LIVINGSTON, WILLIAM ( 1723-1790), American politi cal leader, was born at Albany (N.Y.), probably on Nov. 3o, 1723. He was the son of Philip Livingston (1686-1749), and grandson of Robert Livingston (1654-1725), an important figure in the early life of New York State.
William Livingston graduated at Yale college in 1741, studied law in the City of New York, was admitted to the bar in 1748, and served in the New York legislature (I759-60). However, his chief political influence was exerted through pamphlets and news paper articles. Through the Independent Reflector, which he established in 1752, Livingston fought the attempt to bring the projected King's college (now Columbia university) under the control of the Church of England. Upon the suspension of the Reflector in he edited in the New York Mercury the "Watch Tower" section (1754-55), which became the organ of the Pres byterian faction.
In 1772 he removed to Elizabeth, New Jersey. He represented New Jersey in the first and second Continental Congresses (1774, 1775-76), but left Philadelphia in June 1776, probably to avoid voting on the question of adopting the Declaration of Independ ence, which he regarded as inexpedient. He was chosen first gov ernor of the State of New Jersey in 1778, and was regularly re elected until his death at Elizabeth (N.J.), on July 25, 179c).
Livingston was a delegate to the Federal Constitutional Conven tion of 1787, and supported the New Jersey small State plan. In 1754 he joined with his brother, Philip, and others in founding what is now known as the Society Library of New York. With the help of William Smith (1728-93), the New York historian, William Livingston prepared a digest of the laws of New York for the period 1691-1756, which was published in two volumes (1752 and 1762).
See Theodore Sedgwick, Jr., Life of William Livingston (1833) ; and E. B. Livingston, The Livingston of Livingston Manor (19Io).
Another brother, PHILIP LIVINGSTON (1716-1778), was a member of the Continental Congress from 1774 until his death; he was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
William's son, (HENRY) BROCKHOLST LIVINGSTON ( I 757 1823), was an officer in the American War of Independence. From 1807 until his death he was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court.