Thomas Cairns

Thomas Ashley Cairns JP (1854 – 3 September 1908)[1] was a British Liberal Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Newcastle-upon-Tyne from the 1906 general election until his death two years later due to diabetes,[2] aged 69.[1]

Background

Cairns was born in Sunderland, the son of Thomas Cairns of Forfarshire. He was educated privately. In 1880 he married Isabella Dixon.[3]

Professional career

Cairns was chief partner of Cairns, Noble & Co., shipowners and merchants. He was Vice President of the Shipowners International Association.[4]

Political career

Cairns was a member of the Newcastle School Board from 1892 to 1899. He was elected to Newcastle City Council in 1896. He was appointed as a Justice of the peace for Newcastle. He was active in the Liberal Party as Vice Chairman of the executive committee of the Northern Liberal Federation.[4] He was Liberal candidate for the two member Newcastle-upon-Tyne division at the 1906 General Election. He ran in tandem with a labour candidate and together they took both seats from the Conservatives.[5] Cairns was in favour of housing reform, social legislation and Women's suffrage.[3]

Electoral record
General election January 1906[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Repr. Cmte. Green tickY Walter Hudson 18,869 31.1
Liberal Green tickYThomas Cairns 18,423 30.5
Conservative Walter Richard Plummer 11,942 19.8
Conservative George Renwick 11,223 18.6
Turnout 84.6
Majority 6,927 11.3
Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Conservative Swing
Majority 6,481 10.7
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing

References
  1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 1)
  2. Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 157. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
  3. Dod's Parliamentary Companion 1907
  4. The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  5. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  6. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918
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