Statesman, Inventor, Entrepreneur. He was born a member of one of the great land-owning colonial families of New York. Robert spend his early years here and entered King’s College (Columbia University) at the age of 15. Livingston served from 1775 to 1777 in the Continental Congress, where he was one of the five drafters of the Declaration of Independence. He missed the signing due to duties elsewhere. When the government of New York State was established, Robert became chancellor. He administered the oath of office to President Washington in 1789. He served as President Jefferson’s minister to France and negoitated the Louisana Purchase. While in Paris he met Robert Fulton and later supported the inventor’s construction of the first successful steamboat (The Clermont) named for Livingston’s estate.  They formed a partnership for steamboat service on the Hudson River and he sailed aboard the Clermont on its maiden run from New York City to Albany.  Robert was an inventor and held several patents.  His last years were spent expermenting with new agricultural techniques and raising sheep at the family estate at Clermont located on the shore of the Hudson River.  Robert Livingston’s health took a steady downturn in the summer of 1812 when he suffered a series of strokes which finally took his life on Feb 27, 1813.  After a funeral service at St Paul Episcopal Church in nearby Tivoli, he was interred in the burial ground located to the rear of the structure.  Family links:  Spouse:  Mary Stevens Livingston (1751 – 1814)*  Children:  Elizabeth Stevens Livingston Livingston (1780 – 1829)* *Calculated relationship