The subject of this sketch dates his birth at Montreal, August 10, 1827, he being a son of Duncan and Christina (McPherson) Livingstone. His father was from Argyleshire, Scotland, and for some years, after settling in Canada, was connected with the Hudson Bay Company. The mother was from Inverness. Archibald received a common school education; at fourteen years of age became a clerk in a store at Montreal; and in 1846 removed to Kingston, holding a similar position in the store of John Mowat, father of the present Attorney General of Ontario; clerked also a short time for Joseph Bruce; then bought out Mr. Mowat, and was a merchant for a quarter of a century, at the old stand of Mr. Mowat, corner of Princess and Bagot streets.
Mr. Livingstone was alderman for a dozen years, and mayor 1871, an eventful year. The enterprise of building the Kingston and Pembroke railway, was started that year, and he signed the city by laws, granting $300,000 to that company as a bonus. The Provincial Exhibition was held in Kingston that year, and it devolved upon him to present addresses to the Governor General of the Dominion and the Lieut.-Governors of two Provinces. The great Chicago fire occurred in October, 1871, and he aided in raising $4,145, and remitted it to the sufferers by the unprecedented calamity.
Mr. Livingstone is a Reformer in politics, and a Presbyterian in religion. He was at one time president of the St. Andrew’s Society, and a little later (1872) of the Board of Trade. He is an efficient business man, and considerably identified with the recent progress of the city.
Selina, daughter of Sidney Scobell, builder, of Kingston, and a native of England, became the wife of Mr. Livingstone, May 16, 1854, and they have one son, Sidney Livingstone, teller in the Bank of Commerce, Montreal.