| Notes |
Livingston focused on his law career during the administrations of George Washington and John Adams, and consistently declined offers of appointment to a federal position. That changed in 1801, however, when Thomas Jefferson appointed him Minister to the Court of Napoleon (France), and he accepted. In this capacity, Livingston negotiated the greatest land acquisition in U.S. history, the Louisiana Purchase. While in France, Livingston also provided backing for Robert Fulton's work with steam-powered ships, which ultimately led to the successful test of the Clermont, which Fulton named after the city Livingston called home. He left his position in 1805, after which he spent some time touring Europe. |