Although we know little of John Livingston's private life, there is much material from which a history of his professional career may be written. Livingston was involved in several major business and legal activities during his career (in addition to practicing law). His first major activity was as the editor and publisher of the U.S. Monthly Law Magazine, which under his leadership became Livingston's Monthly Law Magazine. His second major business activity was the editorship and publication of Livingston's Law Register, a predecessor of today's Martindale-Hubbell. His third major business venture was the publication of a series of biographical encyclopedias, including the Biographical Sketches of Eminent American Lawyers, published in ten parts, and Livingston's Portraits and Memoirs of Eminent Americans, a broader series of biographies printed in several issues of two and three volumes each. Livingston was also instrumental in the organization and operation of the North American Legal Association in 1849 as well as the Merchants' Union Law Company in 1866. Finally, in the 1870s, Livingston was actively engaged in representing shareholders in the Erie Railroad, as well as publishing memorials in their favor in conjunction with the proposed reorganization of that railroad. During all these years Livingston remained an active member of the New York Bar. Livingston was the first great lawyer–entrepreneur the United States had produced.