Frederick Henry Litchfield

Frederick Henry Litchfield (27 May 1832 – 1 March 1867), pastoralist, gold miner, explorer, usually known as Fred, is a South Australian prominently associated with the early exploration of the Northern Territory, and more particularly with the discovery of gold there.

Litchfield was born in British India, on 27 May 1832, the eldest son of Charles William Litchfield (c.1802-1850), who was then serving in the 17th Foot of the British Army as a non-commissioned officer. His grandfather was a London surgeon and his lineage is reputedly connected to the Earl of Litchfield title in England. His mother was Margaret, nee O'Connor (1808–1834), but after she died young his father remarried in India in 1835 to Ellen Munro (1818–1908), daughter of Donald and Isabella Munro. Donald Munro (1785–1822), a Scot, also served in the 17th Foot.

His father later transferred to the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot as sergeant-major. In 1836 the regiment returned from Bengal to be stationed at Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. In reward for his many years’ service in India, and pending his retirement, in July 1838 Sergeant-Major C.W. Litchfield was commissioned as ensign (rank), without purchase, and then in November 1838 retired from the army.

During that same year the extended Litchfield family decided upon emigration to South Australia. Charles William Litchfield and family (including six-year-old Fred) embarked at London on the D’Auvergne, arriving at Adelaide on 22 March 1839. Aboard the same ship were Charles' brother John and family, and sisters Mary and Anne. The brother, Dr John Palmer Litchfield, M.D., (1808–1869) had formerly practiced in London. Upon arrival at Adelaide, Dr Litchfield immediately commenced practice as a consulting physician, subsequently became the first Inspector of Hospitals in South Australia, and later moved to Canada where he died in 1869. One sister, Mary Walford Litchfield, died 1846, while the other, Anne Litchfield, married Thomas Reynolds, later the fifth Premier of South Australia. Much later, in 1851, another brother, Frederick Burnett Litchfield, arrived at Adelaide with his family, and became connected with the railways. His daughter, Louisa Jane Litchfield, married William Davy and were the parents of Dr Ruby Claudia Emily Davy, noted South Australian musician and composer.

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