Henry Beekman Livingston

Major Henry Beekman Livingston (October 13, 1748 – Dda|1828|02|29|1748|10|13 [cite web |last=Van Deusen |first=Mary S. |title=Timeline of Henry's Life |url=http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/theman/lifeevents.htm |work=Major Henry Livingston, Jr.: the author of "Night Before Christmas" |accessdate=2008-01-24
(Note that while the Sons of Liberty records agree with Van Deusen's date for Livingston's death, Heitman gives Livingston's death date as November 5, 1831.)] ) was born into a prominent family in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. His father was from Scotland and his mother from Holland. His grandfather was Gilbert Livingston son of Robert Livingston the Elder. A brother was John Henry Livingston. He married in 1774 to Sarah (or Sally) Wells. A year later, right after his first child (Catherine) was born, he joined the American Revolution. [cite web |title=The Known Members of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard |publisher=prepared by the Sons of Liberty Chapter, California Society SAR |url=http://www.rsar.org/rosters/lifeguard.htm |accessdate=2006-12-26] He was the commander of the 4th New York Regiment from 1776 to 1799.

Henry suffered greatly from the death of his wife in 1783. This tragedy left him alone to raise their four children. On the tenth anniversary of his wife's death, however, he remarried. He and his second wife, (Jane Patterson), had four children together. Some of his descendants have claimed that he is the true author of "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas".

Unlike the man who has been recognized by most people as the true author of "A Visit From St. Nicholas", Clement Clarke Moore, Henry Livingston was not well known. Most of his poetry was written for himself and his family and therefore was not published. His seemingly pleasant personality is a big part of Donald Foster's argument in "Author Unknown", in which he states his opinion that Henry Livingston is the true author.

Although Henry Livingston never claimed authorship of "A Visit From St. Nicholas", many of his descendants, including his great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter Mary Van Deusen, are determined to prove that he wrote it. Some of his other works have also been promoted by those who want to prove his authorship.

Footnotes

References

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External links

* [http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/index.htm Mary Van Deusen's website, which includes much of Livingston's extant poetry.]
* [http://www.iment.com/maida/poetry/henryliv.htm Another part of Mary Van Deusen's website: Livingston's poetry.]