[3] In 1871, MacTear, created a chemical process to recover sulphur from the alkali waste piles behind the factory at St Rollox.
His father, Andrew MacTear married Martha De Courcy Lewthwaite on 13 June 1844 and had one son, James, and three daughters none of whom survived.
[1] MacTear was initially employed as an assistant manager by Edward Cortis Stanford at the British Seaweed Company, Whitecrook chemical works[6] in Dalmuir, Clydebank.
[9] MacTear made a number of improvements at St Rollox Chemical Works including inventing a new process to recover sulphur from the waste soda ash piles behind the factory.
[12] In 1876, MacTear was awarded the silver medal of the Society of Arts for the invention of new methods into alkali manufacture.