Irvine was a nephew of Lt.-Colonel James Johnston (1724-1800), of Quebec, brother-in-law of Mathew MacNider and grandfather of Lady Meredith.
He formed a retail firm in partnership with John Munro that operated until 1797, when Irvine returned to England.
to the Governor-General and was chosen to be acting adjutant-general to attend on the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII of the United Kingdom) during his visit to Canada in 1860/61.
to the Governor-General, Matthew Bell Irvine married Charlotte Feodore Louisa Augusta, daughter of Rev.
Irvine was related to many of the foremost Anglo-Quebec families from the time of the British conquest of Canada.