# 126586 - 1982 PRA Robert Livingston
Birth Of Robert R. Livingston
Livingston was the oldest of 10 children of judge Robert Livingston. In 1764 he graduated from King's College, predecessor of Columbia University. Livingston married Mary Stevens in 1770 and established his own family home at Belvedere. The British later burned down this home during the Revolutionary War.
In 1777 Livingston was made the first Chancellor of New York, which was the highest judicial position in the state. He retained the nickname "The Chancellor" for the rest of his life, though he only held the position until 1801. During this time he was also made Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1781 to 1783 as part of the Articles of Confederation.
Livingston ran for Governor of New York in 1798, but was defeated by his former law partner John Jay. Then in 1801 Thomas Jefferson made him U.S. Minister to France. It was in this role that Livingston was sent to Paris in 1801. Livingston had been instructed by President Jefferson to negotiate for either a port at the mouth of the Mississippi river or for permanent trading rights in New Orleans.
By early 1803, French leader Napoleon Bonaparte realized that war with Britain was unavoidable and that his plans to build a New World Empire would not happen. Just days before James Monroe, another American negotiator, arrived in France, Bonaparte informed Livingston that he wished to sell the entire Louisiana Territory - a total of 828,800 square miles. Livingston managed to buy the entire Louisiana Purchase for 15 million dollars - that's just 3 cents an acre! Of the purchase Livingston stated, "We have lived long but this is the noblest work of our whole lives. The United States take rank this day among the first powers of the world."
Birth Of Robert R. Livingston
Livingston was the oldest of 10 children of judge Robert Livingston. In 1764 he graduated from King's College, predecessor of Columbia University. Livingston married Mary Stevens in 1770 and established his own family home at Belvedere. The British later burned down this home during the Revolutionary War.
In 1777 Livingston was made the first Chancellor of New York, which was the highest judicial position in the state. He retained the nickname "The Chancellor" for the rest of his life, though he only held the position until 1801. During this time he was also made Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1781 to 1783 as part of the Articles of Confederation.
Livingston ran for Governor of New York in 1798, but was defeated by his former law partner John Jay. Then in 1801 Thomas Jefferson made him U.S. Minister to France. It was in this role that Livingston was sent to Paris in 1801. Livingston had been instructed by President Jefferson to negotiate for either a port at the mouth of the Mississippi river or for permanent trading rights in New Orleans.
By early 1803, French leader Napoleon Bonaparte realized that war with Britain was unavoidable and that his plans to build a New World Empire would not happen. Just days before James Monroe, another American negotiator, arrived in France, Bonaparte informed Livingston that he wished to sell the entire Louisiana Territory - a total of 828,800 square miles. Livingston managed to buy the entire Louisiana Purchase for 15 million dollars - that's just 3 cents an acre! Of the purchase Livingston stated, "We have lived long but this is the noblest work of our whole lives. The United States take rank this day among the first powers of the world."