Detroit banker, vessel owner, newspaper publisher and member of the Michigan State Legislature. Born in Dundas, Ontario in 1844, William Livingstone was president and one of the founders of the Dime Savings Bank of Detroit, Michigan. He was a director upon its inception in 1884 and was elected president in 1900. He acquired an academical education and later learned the trade of a machinist. In 1864 at the age of 20, he made his first step into the business world and soon became connected with shipping interests on the Great Lakes, in which he increased his interests, becoming president and general manager of the Michigan Navigation Company and the Percheron Steam Navigation Company. He was an ardent Republican and in 1876 was elected to the state legislature from Detroit. After one term he was recognized as a leading factor in Republican party affairs in Michigan. During the administration of President Chester B. Arthur, he was appointed United States Collector of Customs at Detroit. At this time he developed a warm friendship with Thomas W. Palmer, former United States Senator from Michigan, and Livingstone took an active part in the campaign that resulted in Palmer's election in 1883. For several years Livingstone was chairman of the executive committee and participated in the national convention in 1896 as chairman of the Michigan delegation. In 1892 Livingstone and Palmer purchased the Detroit Evening Journal and Livingstone directed its editorial and business management for nearly a decade. In the columns of his paper in 1895 he conducted a vigorous campaign for "sound money" as against the "free silver" slogan of W. J. Bryan and the Democratic Party.

In 1905, Livingstone then president of the Lake Carriers' Association, advocated the construction of an independent waterway for down-bound vessels in the lower Detroit River and spent much time interesting government engineers in the work and prevailing upon Congress to supply the necessary funds for the development of the channel. A formation of limestone that rose almost as fast as it could be dredged out made the "crossing" a great obstacle to movement of cargoes between Buffalo and the great ore and grain shipping port of Lake Superior and Michigan. It was the cause of constant strandings. Marine men characterized it as one of the most needed improvements for lake navigation. In 1906 during the era of 600-foot freighters, Congress made an appropriation for surveys and by 1907, appropriated the necessary funds for the work and authorized it to be known as the “Livingstone Channel” in recognition of the many services rendered by Mr. Livingstone. Work began in 1908 with tons of rock being blasted away with an immense cofferdam erected and the Livingstone channel constructed. The channel opened for operation on October 19, 1912, with many attending the ceremony and a freighter named "William Livingstone" lead the procession. Livingstone was also actively instrumental in bringing about the construction of the Davis and Sabin locks in the St. Mary's River at Sault St. Marie. At the time of his death, 50-million tons of freight were carried on lake steamers, a volume of traffic greater than passes through the Panama Canal. Livingstone was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Knights Templar, a member of The Detroit Club, The Detroit Athletic Club, The Ingleside Club, The Old Club, The University Club, and the Players Club. He was a member of the Union Club of Cleveland and The New York Press Club. He had also served as chairman of the Detroit Clearing House Association, was a former president of the Detroit Bankers Club and was also a director of the Security Trust Company of Detroit. Known to work six days a week, Livingston was said to have preferred the simple life and on his 81st birthday, said he had no hard and fast rules for living. He resided at 76 Eliot Street in Detroit's Brush Park district. The home has since been demolished.

On October 17, 1925, at around 6 P.M, his daughter Susan had telephoned his office on the twenty-second floor of the Dime building to inquire whether he wished his car sent. When her call was not answered she became alarmed and hurried to his office. She found the door locked and entering using a passkey she obtained from the building superintendent, found his body on a couch in a private inner office leased by the Lake Carriers' Association. He was president of the association from 1902 until his death. Detroit Coroner Albert L. French said, "he seemed to have merely fallen asleep; his head rested gently on his chest and he sat in his chair in a position entirely lifelike". Dr. French stated his death was due to heart disease. At the time of his death, next to Henry Ford, Livingstone was the most widely known man in the City of Detroit. William Livingstone was a widower and three months prior to his passing his wife Susan died. He married his wife Susan Downie in June of 1866. The Livingstone's had three sons and four daughters. On October 17, 1930, exactly five years after his passing, a lighthouse on Belle Isle Park was dedicated in his honor. The memorial lighthouse was designed by Detroit Architect Albert Kahn and built of Georgia marble at a cost of $100,000.

The William Livingstone House, also known as “Slumpy” was constructed in 1894 for the Livingstone family and was located in the Brush Park district of Detroit, Michigan. The last owners of the house, The Red Cross,  intended to demolish the mansion, originally located west of John R. Street, to make way for their new building. Preservationists succeeded in moving the Livingstone House about one block to the east, but the 19th-century structure languished for many years on its final resting place before partially collapsing and being demolished on September 15, 2007. During its demise, the slate roof of the William Livingstone House stayed almost intact as the house continued to collapse. The mansion was commemorated in a painting by artist Lowell Boileau entitled “Open House”, which was unveiled the day of its demolition.