Born in Dundonald, McClure studied at Campbell College, then at Queen's University, Belfast.
He first graduated in medicine, then in pathology, bacteriology and biochemistry.
In 1932, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and in 1944, a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
[1] At the 1962 Northern Ireland general election, McClure was elected for the Ulster Unionist Party in the Queen's University seat.
He was instead elected to the Senate of Northern Ireland, and served until it was prorogued in 1972.