CAIRNS, JOHN (1818-1892), Scottish Presbyterian divine, was born at Ayton Hill, Berwickshire, on Aug. 23, 1818, the son of a shepherd. He went to school at Ayton and Oldcambus, Ber wickshire, and managed with some difficulty to support himself at Edinburgh university, where he became the most distinguished student of his time, graduating M.A. in 1341, first in classics and philosophy and bracketed first in mathematics. In May 1876 he was appointed joint professor of systematic theology and apolo getics with James Harper, principal of the United Presbyterian Theological college, whom he succeeded as principal in 1879. He died on March 12, 1892, at Edinburgh.
Among his principal publications are An Examination of Ferrier's "Knowing and Being," and the Scottish Philosophy (a work which gave him the reputation of being an independent Hamiltonian in philosophy) ; Memoir of John Brown, D.D. (186o) ; Romanism and Rationalism (1863) ; Outlines of Apologetical Theology (1867) ; The Doctrine of the Presbyterian Church (1876) ; Unbelief in the 18th Century (1881); Doctrinal Principles of the United Presbyterian Church (Dr. Blair's Manual, 1888) .
See MacEwen, Life and Letters of John Cairns (1895) ; John Cairns; Principal Cairns (Famous Scot series, 1896) .