Philip Livingston
North York, York County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
One of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence; died in June, 1778, while attending Continental Congress as delegate from New York. His grave is about 300 feet west of here.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Philip Livingston, a wealthy New York merchant, put his name to the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and continued to serve in the Continental Congress until his death in June 1778, while Congress was meeting in York. He was buried here, hundreds of miles from home, a casualty of the demands of wartime public service. His grave lies about 300 feet west of this spot.
Why it matters
Livingston is one of the few signers of the Declaration to die during the Revolution itself, a reminder that the pledge of "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor" was no mere rhetoric.
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Related people
- ยท Philip Livingston
Related events
- ยท Signing of the Declaration of Independence
- ยท Continental Congress at York
Themes & tags
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