Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 32.djvu/433

Leifchild  left the Condamine river with the intention of discovering the extent of Sturt's Desert in the interior, and the character of the western and north-western coast. He went as far as the neighbourhood of Peake Range in Sturt's Desert, but, after going through great sufferings, returned to the Condamine on 5 July 1847. On 9 Aug. 1847 he began a brief and unsuccessful journey to the westward of Darling Downs, to examine the country between Sir Thomas Mitchell's track and his own. In March 1848 he undertook the formidable task of crossing the entire continent from east to west. His starting-point was the Fitzroy Downs, north of the river Condamine in Queensland, between the 26th and 27th degrees of south latitude. On 3 April 1848 he wrote announcing his safe arrival at McPherson's station on the river Cogoon. This was the last authentic news heard of him or his party. Various expeditions were at different times sent out to search for Leichhardt, but no trustworthy information of him was obtained.

 LEIFCHILD, HENRY STORMONTH (1823–1884), sculptor, born in 1823, was fourth son of William Gerard Leifchild of Moorgate Street and The Elms, Wanstead, Essex, and nephew of John Leifchild, D.D. [q. v.] He studied in the sculpture galleries of the British Museum, at the Royal Academy, and from 1848 to 1851 at Rome. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1846, sending 'The Mother of Moses leaving him on the Banks of the Nile.' At the Great Exhibition of 1851 he exhibited his statue of 'Rizpah.' and that, like his later groups, 'Bacchus and Ariadne.' 'The Torchbearers.' 'Minerva repressing the Wrath of Achilles.' 'Lot's Wife.' 'Wrecked.' besides various busts of minor importance, attracted favourable attention. He was the successful competitor for the guards' memorial at Chelsea Hospital. Seven models in plaster of his most important works were presented by his widow and family to the Castle Museum at Nottingham. A mortuary chapel in Warriston cemetery at Edinburgh, designed throughout by Leifchild, is a work of great merit. A statue of 'Erinna' is at Holloway College. Leifchild resided most of his life in Stanhope Street, Regent's Park, and died at 15 Kirkstall Road, Streatham Hill, Surrey, on 11 Nov. 1884. He married Marion, daughter of Henry Clarke of King Street, Covent Garden, but left no children. Leifchild was a man of many talents, excelling not only in his profession, but as a draughtsman, carver, and musician.

 LEIFCHILD, JOHN (1780–1862), independent minister, son of John Leifchild by his wife Miss Bockman, was born at Barnet, Hertfordshire, 15 Feb. 1780. He was educated at the Barnet grammar school, and from 1795 to 1797 worked with a cooper at St. Albans. From 1804 to 1808 he was a student in Hoxton academy; from 1808 to 1824 was minister of the independent chapel in Hornton Street, Kensington; from 1824 to 1830 was minister of the church in Bridge Street, Bristol; and from 1831 to 1854 at Craven Chapel, Bayswater, London. His last charge was eminently successful, and his powerful sermons were widely appreciated. He formally retired from the ministry in 1854; but for a little more than one year, 1854–6, he preached at Queen's Square Chapel, Brighton. He died at 4 Fitzroy Terrace, Gloucester Road North, Regent's Park, London, on 29 June 1862.

His first wife died in 1804, and he married secondly, 4 June 1811, Elizabeth, daughter of John Stormouth, a surgeon in India; she died at Brighton 28 Dec. 1855, aged 78 (A Memoir of Mrs. E. Leifchild, 1856).

He was author of: 1. 'The Case of Children of Religious Parents considered, and the Duties of Parents and Children enforced,' 1827. 2. 'A Christian Antidote to Unreasonable Fears at the present, in reply to the Speech of W. Thorp against Catholic Emancipation.' 1829. 3. 'A Help to the Private and Domestic Reading of the Holy Scriptures,' an arrangement of the books of the Old and New Testament in chronological order, 1829. 4. 'Memoir of the late Rev. J. Hughes, M.A.,' 1835. 5. 'Observations on Providence in relation to the World and the Church,' 1836. 6. 'The Plain Christian guarded against some popular Errors respecting the Scriptures.' 1841. 7. 'Original Hymns, edited by J. L.,' 1842; another edit. 1843. 8. 'Directions for the right and profitable