447 The Other Committee Members: Robert R. Livingston, Roger Sherman, and the Declaration of Independence
About this episode
This episode explores the lives and contributions of Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman, the lesser-known members of the Declaration Committee.
Five men served on the Continental Congress’s Declaration Committee. We know three of them well: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. But who were the other two? In this episode, we explore the lives and contributions of Robert R. Livingston of New York and Roger Sherman of Connecticut. Historians Geoff Benton and Michael Morand join us as we uncover the stories of the other Committee members. Clermont State Historic Site WebsiteShow Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/447 EPISODE OUTLINE00:00:00 Introduction00:04:46 The Lee Resolution and the Committee of Five00:05:26 Robert R. Livingston's Early Life00:06:56 Colonial New York Politics 00:11:02 Livingston's Appointment to the Second Continental Congress00:15:20 Why Livingston Chosen for Declaration Committee00:18:44 Livingston's feud with John Adams00:19:18 Livingston Misses the Vote for Independence00:20:50 Livingston Becomes Chancellor of New York State00:24:06 Livingston's Role in Steam Navigation00:26:15 Clermont State Historic Site00:32:35 Roger Sherman's Early Life 00:36:47 Sherman's Family and Life in New Haven00:37:43 Sherman's Involvement in the Imperial…
More episodes of Ben Franklin's World
- BFW Revisited: A Declaration in Draft, 2026
- 446 The Declaration of Independence at 250
- 445 How Independence Happened, Pt 3: The Articles of Confederation
- 444 How Independence Happened, Part 2: The Model Treaty
- 443 How Independence Happened, Part 1: The Lee Resolution
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