After his father's death around 1502, his mother remarried to John Forrester of Niddry.
[1] His maternal grandfather was John Houston of that Ilk and his paternal grandfather was Alexander Livingston, the second son of James Livingston, 1st Lord Livingston, who served as Great Chamberlain of Scotland during the reign of James II and James III of Scotland.
[1] Upon the death of his father sometime before 2 Mar 1502/3, he succeeded to the title 4th Lord Livingston of Callendar, which had been created for his great-grandfather in 1458.
[1] Around 1500, Livingston was married to Agnes Hepburn, daughter of Alexander Hepburn of Whitsome (third son of Patrick Hepburn, 1st Lord Hailes) and Janet Napier (daughter of Sir Alexander Napier of Merchiston).
Together, they were the parents of three sons and one daughter:[1] Livingston died sometime before 21 April 1518 and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Alexander,[1] who, upon the death of James V of Scotland, was appointed one of two guardians to Mary, Queen of Scots.