Biography
He was born on May 30, 1746 near Poughkeepsie, New York. His great-grandfather was Robert Livingston the Elder, first lord of Livingston Manor. John Henry Livingston graduated from Yale College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1762. He earned a Doctor of Theology from the University of Utrecht and was ordained into the ministry by the Classis of Amsterdam in 1770. Subsequent to his return from the Netherlands, Livingston served as a pastor to the Reformed Church in New York City, becoming a leading figure in the church and negotiating the peaceful reunifications of its two opposing factions. On November 26, 1775, Livingston married his second cousin, Sarah Livingston, a daughter of Philip Livingston, and their son was State Senator Henry A. Livingston (1776–1849).
When Queen's College offered him the presidency as early as 1807, he initially declined. However, the Trustees continued to offer, and Livingston accepted the post in 1810. He was also a professor of theology. Queen's College fell into financial trouble and was forced to close its doors in 1816. Livingston continued teaching at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary (which shared facilities with Queen's College), continued to lobby and fundraise for the reopening of Queen's College, which would happen ten months after his death in 1825.
After being chosen to head Queen's College and Livingston purchased a 150-acre (0.61 km2) plot of land nearby Raritan Landing, which would thereafter be known as the Livingston Manor. A Greek Revival mansion built by descendents Robert and Louisa Livingston around 1843 stands on the property and is now known as Livingston Homestead. At the turn of the 20th century, the property was developed as a streetcar suburb, and in 2004 became part of the Livingston Manor Historic District. The house and the district are listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.
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