livingston was born on october 13, 1748, in poughkeepsie, new york, to dr. henry gilbert livingston sr. (1714–1799) and susannah storm conklin (1724–1793). his siblings included gilbert livingston, reverend john henry livingston, cornelia livingston van kleeck, catherine elizabeth livingston mifflin, joanna livingston schenck, susan livingston duyckinck, alida livingston woolsey, robert henry livingston, beekman livingston, catherine h. livingston and helena livingston platt.