John Cairncross profile Photo

John Cairncross

Writers

Birthday July 25, 1913

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Age 82 Years

Date of death 8 October, 1995

Died Place N/A

#23,948 Most Popular

Who Is John Cairncross? Age, Biography, and Wiki

John Cairncross was born on July 25, 1913, and passed away in 1995, making his life span a remarkable 82 years. As a British intelligence officer, Cairncross played a significant role in the espionage activities of the 20th century, particularly during the Cold War. He became infamous as one of the “Cambridge Five,” a group of British spies who were recruited by the Soviet Union. His contributions to espionage have been a subject of extensive discussion in both historical contexts and popular culture.

Occupation Writers
Date of Birth July 25, 1913
Age 82 Years
Birth Place Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Horoscope Leo
Country
Date of death 8 October, 1995
Died Place N/A

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John Cairncross's Popularity over time

Height, Weight & Measurements

While specific details about John Cairncross's physical attributes might not be well-documented, it is commonly stated that he maintained an average stature typical of men during his lifetime. His exact height and weight may not be crucial in understanding his legacy but serving in roles that required intelligence and strategy rather than physical prowess.

Family, Dating & Relationship Status

Cairncross had a complex personal life marked by his clandestine connections and ideological pursuits. His relationships often reflected the turbulent times he lived in, particularly during his spy activities. While he was known to have a family, including siblings, specific details about his romantic relationships or partnerships remain less clear, largely due to the secretive nature of his work and the era's societal norms.

In September 1951, he was questioned by British counterintelligence about his relationship with Maclean and the Communist Party. Cairncross had been trained by the Soviets on how to behave during a counterintelligence interrogation.

On 23 October 1951, Cairncross informed his Soviet controller that he had merely explained to the interrogator that he did not hide his membership with the party and that he would merely greet Maclean when he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but did not maintain any contact with him after graduation.

For security, the residence (or rezidentura, the local Soviet intelligence station) temporarily stopped contact with him, allowed him to continue to report monthly his situation with appropriate signals, and planned a follow-up meeting on 23 January 1952.

The Soviets developed an exfiltration plan for Cairncross including funds, documents, and communication methods while living in other countries. Cairncross did not signal his controller until an early March 1952 meeting during which Cairncross stated that he had been interrogated again.

The residency did not have any more contact with Cairncross and instructed Kim Philby to determine Cairncross's whereabouts. Philby could not determine the whereabouts of Cairncross.

Net Worth and Salary

Estimating John Cairncross's net worth is challenging due to the secretive nature of his intelligence work. However, as a prominent figure in British intelligence and a Soviet informant, his financial status would have been influenced by his government salaries as well as potential side ventures. As of his passing in 1995, any public disclosures are limited, making precise figures unavailable.

Career, Business, and Investments

Cairncross's career is most notably marked by his work as a Soviet spy and British intelligence officer. He gained notoriety for being part of a network that transmitted sensitive information to the Soviet Union, significantly impacting Cold War dynamics. Beyond espionage, information regarding additional business ventures or investments that Cairncross may have pursued is scarce, as much of his life was spent under the radar of public scrutiny.

In 1942 and 1943 Cairncross worked at GC&CS, Bletchley Park in Hut 3, on Ultra ciphers. He had access to communications of the German military and intelligence services. In June 1943, he left Bletchley Park for a job in MI6.

Social Network

As a historical figure, Cairncross can be found mentioned on various social networks and platforms that focus on historical events and espionage themes. He is frequently discussed in forums dedicated to Cold War history, espionage literature, and related documentaries. Although he does not have direct social media accounts (given that he lived in a pre-digital age), his legacy continues to be shared and debated online.

According to The Washington Post, the suggestion that John Cairncross was the "fifth man" of the Cambridge ring was not confirmed until 1990, by Soviet double-agent Oleg Gordievsky. This was re-confirmed by former KGB agent Yuri Modin's book published in 1994, My Five Cambridge Friends Burgess, Maclean, Philby, Blunt, and Cairncross by Their KGB Controller.

Education

John Cairncross was educated at the prestigious Cambridge University, which played a crucial role in his intellectual development and subsequent recruitment into espionage by the Soviet Union. His academic background, particularly in modern languages, allowed him to excel as a translator and analyst within the realm of intelligence.

In summary, while much of John Cairncross's legacy is marred by secrecy and intrigue, his contributions as a British intelligence officer and Soviet spy continue to resonate within historical discussions of the Cold War. His life story underscores the complex interactions of loyalty, ideology, and betrayal during one of history's most tumultuous periods.

His three brothers became professors, one of whom was the economist Sir Alexander Kirkland Cairncross (a.k.a. Alec Cairncross). The journalist Frances Cairncross is his niece.

Cairncross grew up in Lesmahagow, a small town on the edge of moorland, near Lanark in the Central Belt of Scotland, and was educated at Lesmahagow Higher Grade School (where his name appears as the 1928 winner of the Dux prize); Hamilton Academy; the University of Glasgow; the Sorbonne; and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied French and G

erman.

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