My Name is Robert Livingston: Diplomat and Architect of a Nation’s Expansion I was born in 1746 into the Livingston family of New York, a name already woven deeply into colonial politics and landholding. Privilege opened doors for me, but it also carried expectation. From an early age, I understood that influence came with responsibility, and that leadership required more than inheritance. I was trained to think carefully, speak precisely, and act deliberately.   Education an