Background
Beeckman, Robert Livingston was born on April 15, 1866 in New York City. Son of Gilbert Livingston and Margaret (Foster) Beeckman.
governor of Rhode Island Tennis player
Beeckman, Robert Livingston was born on April 15, 1866 in New York City. Son of Gilbert Livingston and Margaret (Foster) Beeckman.
Education public and private schools.
His family ancestry can be traced back to Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam dating to 1654. His ancestors include Robert Livingston the Elder, Declaration signer Philip Livingston and "The Chancellor" Robert Livingston. His family owned the financial firm Lapsley Beeckman & Company
When Beeckman was young, his family moved to Newport, Rhode Island.
He left school at the age of sixteen to become a stockbroker. Stockbroker
At the age of 16 Beeckman began his career at a stock brokerage firm in New New York
By 1616, he retired from the brokerage business. Tennis player
Beeckman played in the finals of the 1886 United States National Tennis Championships in Newport.
The score was 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4.
Beeckman"s first political office was a Rhode Island state Representative in the General Assembly from Newport, from 1902 to 1912. He was a state Senator from 1912 to 1914. He was elected the governor of Rhode Island in 1914.
He held the governor"s office from January 5, 1915 to January 4, 1921.
During his administration, Beeckman pushed for reforms in State institutions including hospitals, prisons, and insane asylums, established an inheritance tax, and established a state Parole Board. He was the governor during the First World War.
He visited Rhode Island troops on the battlefield in France and pushed for state appropriations to provide for dependent families of servicemen. Beeckman also removed the property qualification for Rhode Island voters, introducing universal male suffrage in that state.
Beeckman stepped down from the governorship after three terms, then ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 1922, losing to Peter G. Gerry.
At age 21, Beeckman became one of the youngest ever members of the New York Stock Exchange (from 1887–1906). After this time, he was a member of the board of directors of several corporations, including the Industrial Trust Company, the Newport Trust Company, the International Silver Company, and the Newport Casino.
Married Eleanor Thomas, October 8, 1902 (died 1920). Married second, Edna Marston, September 1, 1923.
