Cairns, EARL. HUGH MACCALMONT CAIRNS, a great lawyer and parliamentary debater, was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1819, and educated at
Trinity College, Dublin. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1844, was returned to parliament for Belfast in 1852, and quickly made his mark in the House by his fluency and readiness in debate. He became Q.C. in 1856, in 1858 Solicitor-general, and in 1866 Attorney-general under Lord Derby. Later in the same year he was made a judge of appeal, and in 1867 was created Baron Cairns. Under Disraeli's premiership he became Lord Chancellor in 1868, and again in 1874, and was created Viscount Garmoyle and Earl Cairns in 1878. For some years he led the Conservatives in the House of Lords with equal dexterity and vigour. He died at Bournemouth, 2d April 1885. As a lawyer he will be best remembered for his measures to improve the transfer of land, and his having originally projected that fusion of law and equity which was actually carried into effect by his successor, Lord Selborne. He took an active interest in all philanthropic schemes, and was often chairman at religious meetings in Exeter Hall.