He was born in North Rustico, Prince Edward Island to a father who was a participant in the American Civil War (1861–1865).

[2] McLure was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in 1923 as a Conservative candidate for the 5th Queens riding and re-elected there for a second term in 1927.

After a term in the House of Commons, he was defeated by J. James Larabee and Peter Sinclair of the Liberal party in the 1935 election and again in 1940.

McLure won Queen's in the 1945 election as a Progressive Conservative party candidate and returned to Parliament, and was re-elected in 1949.

McLure was defeated in the 1953 election as the riding was won by Neil Matheson of the Liberals and Angus MacLean of the Progressive Conservatives who retained his seat.