Robert R. Livingston, Esq. of Clermont

• Born in New York City,
  November 27, 1746
• Died at Clermont,
  February 25, 1813
• Robert R. Livingston graduated from King’s College (now Columbia University) in 1765.

  His commencement speech, “In Praise of Liberty,” received a standing ovation.
  
  Later, Robert R. Livingston, John Jay and Gouvernuer Morris would play major roles in the creation of the New York Constitution.

• Recorder of New York, 1773-1775.
• Member of the Continental Congress, 1775-77; 1779-81; 1784/85.
• On the “committee of five” that drafted the Declaration of Independence, 1776.
  
• Member of the Provincial Congress, 1776/77.
• Chancellor of the State Of New York, 1777-1801. As Chancellor he presided over the Court of Chancery, the State’s highest court. In this post, he administered the Oath of Office to George Washington, first President of the United States, at Federal Hall, New York City, April 30, 1789.
• Member of the council of Revision composed of the Governor, Chancellor and Justices of the State Supreme Court which had the power to veto bills within ten days of receiving them.
• United States First Secretary of Foreign Affairs, 1781-83 under the Articles of Confederation. Under the U.S. Constitution this post is “Secretary of State.”
• United States Minister Plentipotentiary to France, 1801-04. As Ambassador, Livingston was the principal negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase with Napoleon’s ministers in 1803. The land purchase doubled the territory of the United States. The lands included all of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota and most of Oklahoma, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Colorado and Louisiana.
• Partner with Robert Fulton in the invention of the first practical steamboat, 1807. While popularly known as the “Clermont,” its official registry was the North River Steamboat of Clermont.” Clermont was the vessel’s home port.
• As an orator Livingston was once described by Benjamin Franklin as the “Cicero of America.” J.B. Longacre, author of the National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans, 1839 is quoted: “The style of his poetry was chaste and classical, and of that persuasive kind which the father of poetry ascribes to Nestor.” [v.4, p.7]
• First Grand master of the Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, 1784-1801. A Masonic memorial in honor of Livingston stands at Clermont State Historic Site.
• Robert R. Livingston and Governor George Clinton were chosen by New York State to have their likenesses carved into statues and placed within the United States Capitol.
• One of the first to introduce merino sheep to the United States and the individual to popularize them here in this country through his book Essay on Sheep and his famous sheep shearing festivals held at the Clermont estate. Robert R. Livingston was also first to experiment and routinely use gypsum as a fertilizer. An experimental farm which included exotic blossoming and fruit-bearing trees was operated at Clermont. Green gage plums and asparagus were also introduced to America through his work at Clermont. Landscape architecture was practiced to a high standard and was noted by A.J. Downing.