Earl Cairns

Earl Cairns is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1878 for the prominent lawyer and Conservative politician Hugh Cairns, 1st Baron Cairns. He was Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain in 1868 and from 1874 to 1880. Cairns had already been created Baron Cairns, of Garmoyle in the County of Antrim, in 1867,[1] and was made Viscount Garmoyle, in the County of Antrim, at the same time he was given the earldom.[2] These titles are also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Earldom Cairns
Arms: Gules, three Martles Argent, within a Bordure of the second charged with three Trefoils slipped Vert; Crest: A Martlet Argent, charged on the breast with a Trefoil slipped Vert; Supporters: On either side a Hawk wings expanded proper, collared, belled and chained Or, holding in the beak a Trefoil slipped Vert.
Creation date	27 September 1878
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Hugh Cairns, 1st Earl Cairns
Present holder	Simon Cairns, 6th Earl Cairns
Heir apparent	Hugh Cairns, Viscount Garmoyle
Remainder to	the 1st Earl's heirs male of the body
Subsidiary titles	Viscount Garmoyle Baron Cairns
Motto	EFFLORESCO (I Flourish)

Hugh McCalmont Cairns, 1st Earl Cairns

He was succeeded by his second but eldest surviving son, the second Earl. He died young without male issue and was succeeded by his younger brother, the third Earl. He never married and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Earl. On his death the titles passed to his second but only surviving son, the fifth Earl. He was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy. As of 2018, the titles are held by his son, the sixth Earl, who succeeded in 1989.

Sir William Cairns, half-brother of the first Earl, served as Governor of Queensland from 1875 to 1877.

The family seat is Bolehyde Manor, near Chippenham, Wiltshire.