Maclean was born in Crieff, Canada West (bordering south end of Guelph), to Scottish-born parents, Catherine (Cameron) and Andrew MacLean.

Maclean moved to Chatsworth, Ontario, and graduated as a teacher from Toronto Normal School.

After a brief teaching career, Maclean worked at The Toronto World as reporter and then worked his way to becoming a financial editor of the Toronto Mail before entering publishing with his brother Hugh Cameron Maclean by founding Canadian Grocer & Storekeeper's Newspaper in 1887.

He then added a number of trade magazines: Hardware and Metal (1888[1] ), Dry Goods Review, and Printer and Publisher.

[3] His longtime collaborator and associate, Horace Talmadge Hunter, succeeded Maclean as company president upon the founder's retirement.