Cairns, Sir William Wellington(1828?-1888), governor, was born in Ireland, son of William Cairns, property owner at Cultra, County Down, and sometime captain in the 14th Regiment, and his second wife Matilda, daughter of Francis Beggs of the Grange, Malahide, near Dublin. Probably because of ill health William was advised to leave England. In December 1852 he joined the Ceylon civil service in which he rose to be postmaster-general by 1864. He was appointed lieutenant-governor of Malacca in 1867, of St Kitts in 1868 and of Honduras in 1870. In March 1874 he was created C.M.G. and was appointed governor of Queensland, a position he held from 23 January 1875 to 10 April 1877. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A030306b.htm 28 May 2009)
From the description of 10056 Cairns, Sir William Wellington, 1876. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 755778279
