John Cairns (1857–1922) was a United Presbyterian Church minister, writer and biographer. He was born on 13 April 1857 at Stichill in Roxburghshire. He was the son of Rev. David Cairns, United Presbyterian Church minister at Stichill, and of Elizabeth Williamson Smith. He was educated at Edrom Parish School in Berwickshire and at University of Edinburgh where he graduated M.A. in 1878. He trained for the ministry at United Presbyterian College, Edinburgh and at Leipzig University. He wrote a biography of his uncle, John Cairns in the "Famous Scots Series". He died in Edinburgh on 13 May 1922.
Contents
Career as Minister
June 1882 – Licensed by U. P. Presbytery of Kelso
1882-3 – Assistant at Dumbarton Bridgend
1883-4 – Assistant at Dumfries Buccleuch Street
16 Oct 1884 – Ordained and inducted as Minister at Dumfries Buccleuch Street
April 1922 – Retired as Minister at Dumfries Buccleuch Street
Administrative Posts with UF Church
1907-8 – Vice-Convener of Continental Committee
1909 – Convener of Continental Committee
1913–22 – Convener of Colonial and Continental Committee
Publications
Principal Cairns. Edinburgh: Oliphant, Anderson and Ferrier, 1903, ("Famous Scots Series")
Our Continental Mission Field and its Historic Background. Edinburgh: United Free Church of Scotland, 1921.