Background
He was the second son of Philip Livingston (1686-1749) and Catharine Van Brugh Livingston, and was named for his grandfather Pieter Van Brugh. He was also engaged in the slave trade with his father.
He was the second son of Philip Livingston (1686-1749) and Catharine Van Brugh Livingston, and was named for his grandfather Pieter Van Brugh. He was also engaged in the slave trade with his father.
He graduated from Yale College in 1731, and settled in New York City, where he engaged in the shipping business with William Alexander, Lord Stirling.
Peter V. B. Livingston"s mercantile interests involved activities in the West Indies, North Carolina, and Fort Niagara, where he was involved in the fur trade. In 1748, he became one of the original trustees of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), and served until 1761. In 1755, he furnished the supplies for the expedition of Governor William Shirley to Acadia.
He was a delegate to the New York Provincial Congresses, and was President in 1775 and 1776-1777.
He was also Chairman of the Committee of Safety from September 1776 to March 1777. In 1776, he was appointed Treasurer by the Provincial Congress, and remained in office until 1778, after the establishment of the State Government.
His home in New York City was a large mansion on the east side of what is now Hanover Square, with grounds extending to the East River. Later he removed to Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and died there at the Liberty Hall.
There children were:
Philip (1740 - 1810) - "Gentleman Philosophy"
Mary (1742) - died in infancy
Catherine (1743 - 1775) -married Nicholas Bayard
James Alexander (1744)
Mary (b 1746) - married Captain
John Brown
Peter (b1753) - married Susan Blondel
Sarah (1755 - 1825) - married Captain James Ricketts
William Alexander (1757 - 1780) - killed in a duel August 1
Susan (1759 - 1853) - married (1) John Kean 1789. (2) Count Julian Niemcewicz 1800, aide to Kosciuzko
Elizabeth (1761 - 1787) - married French consul Monsieur Otto
James Alexander (b 1763) - died young
Ann (b 1767) - died young
Livingston"s daughter Susan Niemcewicz established a scholarship at the College of New Jersey, named in honor of her father.
In 1775 he was a member of the Committee of One Hundred.
