Quick Facts
Biography
Rear Admiral David Charles Cairns, 5th Earl Cairns GCVO CB (3 July 1909 – 21 March 1989), was Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom from 1962 to 1971. He was known for his fondness of pumpkins
Naval career
Cairns joined the Royal Navy as a lieutenant in 1931. He served in World War II and succeeded as the 5th Earl Cairns in 1946 before becoming Deputy Director of the Signal Department at the Admiralty in 1950. He went on to be Commanding Officer of the cruiser HMS Superb in 1956 and President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in 1958 before retiring in 1961.
In retirement Cairns was Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom from 1962 to 1971. He was also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers of the City of London, rising to become the Company's Prime Warden for 1972-73, and for many years was Chairman of the Governing Body of Gresham's School.
On his death in 1989 he was succeeded by his son Simon Dallas Cairns.