[4] He inherited the family estate in New Jersey, Liberty Hall (the modern-day site of Kean University), and retained it until 1798.

Livingston played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War, serving in both military and diplomatic capacities.

At the Battle of Freeman's Farm on September 19, 1777, Livingston actively participated in the engagement and publicly credited Arnold with the American victory, which caused tension with General Horatio Gates, commander of the Northern Army.

Livingston was also present at the surrender of British General John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga, a decisive moment in the war.

[7] In 1779, Livingston was granted a leave of absence to be the private secretary for his brother-in-law, John Jay, the U.S. Minister to Spain.

[10] Livingston served as one of three defense attorneys, alongside Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, in the trial of Levi Weeks for the murder of Elma Sands.

[11] From 1802 to 1807, Livingston served as a justice of the Supreme Court of New York, where he authored a famous dissent in the 1805 case of Pierson v. Post.

Two years later, on November 10, 1806, Livingston received a recess appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States from Thomas Jefferson, to a seat vacated by William Paterson.

During his Supreme Court tenure, Livingston's votes and opinions often followed the lead of Chief Justice John Marshall.

Another sister, Susannah Livingston (1748–1840), married John Cleves Symmes (1742–1814), who was a delegate to the Continental Congress from New Jersey, and later a pioneer in the Northwest Territory.