LIVINGSTON, Philip [1716-1778] -- American merchant

He was born in Albany, N.Y., Jan. 15, 1716, son of Philip and Catherine (Van Brugh) Livingston. He was graduated from Yale, A.B., 1737, A.M., 1740, and engaged in business in New York city as a merchant.

He was one of the seven aldermen of the city, 1754-63; a member of the provincial assembly, 1763-69 and speaker in 1768; a member of the committee of correspondence; a delegate to the stamp-act congress in October, 1765; a delegate to the Continental congress, 1774-78, and at the first convention of that body he was one of the committee appointed to prepare an address to the People of Great Britain. He was one of the four delegates from New York who signed the Declaration of Independence. It was at his residence on Brooklyn Heights, N.Y., that Washington held the council of war that decided on the retreat from Long Island in 1776. He was a member of the state assembly and in May, 1777, was chosen state senator.

He was one of the founders of the New York Society library in 1754; of the chamber of commerce in 1770; and one of the governors of the New York hospital in 1771. He was prominent in the establishment of King's college, and in 1746 he aided in founding the Livingston professorship of divinity at Yale.

He was married to Christina, daughter of Richard Ten Broeck, recorder of Albany. He died while in attendance at the 6th session of the Continental congress, at York, Pa., June 12, 1778.