Hugh Cairns, 1st Earl Cairns

Hugh McCalmont Cairns, 1st Earl Cairns PC QC (* December 27, 1819 at Holywood, Ireland, † April 2, 1885 in Bournemouth, England ) was an Irish- British statesman.

Life

His father, a captain of the 47th Regiment of Foot, came from a family that immigrated in 1715 from Scotland to Ireland. Hugh Cairns was the second son and visited the Belfast Academy and Trinity College. He obtained his degree in 1838 and was admitted in 1844 to the bar in the Middle Temple, after he initially belonged to Lincoln 's Inn.

In 1852 he was elected for the constituency of Belfast in the House of Commons and 1856 he was Attorney-General. 1858 Cairns Solicitor General for England and Wales and was knighted. In 1866 he was of Edward Geoffrey Smith Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, was appointed Attorney General for England and Wales.

1867 Cairns was raised to Baron Cairns. 1868 and 1874 to 1880 he was Lord Chancellor under Benjamin Disraeli.

On 9 July 1876, Thomas John Barnardo, whose charitable work Cairns had previously supported, a village- girl's home in Barkingside, had placed 12 chalets available for the Baron Cairns.

1878 Cairns survey was created Viscount Garmoyle and Earl Cairns. In 1856 he married Mary Harriet, eldest daughter of John McNeill, with whom he had seven children. His titles were inherited by his son, Arthur William Cairns