LIVINGSTON, John H., American divine and virtual founder of two institutions of learning, Rutgers College and the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in America, at New Brunswick, N. J.: b. Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 30 May 1746; d. 20 Jan. 1825. He was graduated from Yale College and studied law two years, but in New York came under the influence of Archibald Laidlie (Flushing) and chose the ministry. He sailed for Europe, 12 May 1766, being the last of American youth in the then Dutch Reformed Church to study theology in Holland. At Utrecht University, he sought and won, by discussion in the Latin language, the degree of doctor of divinity and wrote a Latin thesis. Called to the Collegiate Reformed Church in New York City, he acted as a peacemaker between the parties in the denomination formed chiefly on the idea of speedy, or of slow Americanization and use of the English language. Largely under his personal influence, Rutgers College (chartered in 1766) and the Theological Seminary,. the second oldest in America, were begun. In
the Revolution, his Americanism was so ar dent during the British occupation that he had to leave the city. To the Utrecht Uni versity motto, of 1648, after the end of the Netherlands '80 years' war for freedom, "Sol justitim illustra," Livingston added for Rut gers College "et occidentem"—"[Divine] Sun of righteousness illuminate also the West." Probably no institution of learning, with the Atlantic between, has a closer historical con nection with Europe than Rutgers College with Utrecht University. On 9 July 1909, the friends of Rutgers College unveiled in the aula of the University of Utrecht 'a bronze tablet to the memory of Livingston with the inscription in Latin, meaning "We salute Utrecht University as the dear mother of our dear mother." Livingston's voluminous writ ings include the first hymnbook (in English) and the constitution of the Reformed Church in America. Consult Gunn, 'Memoirs of Dr. Livingston' (1836).