[2] He was born on 15 December 1734 the son of Anne Stewart and the noted Scots mathematician, Colin Maclaurin.
[3] Maclaurin lived in Dreghorn Castle near Colinton (just south of Edinburgh), acquired from the Home family.
"In granting him (Major Donald MacLaren in 1957) the appropriate arms, with supporters, the Lord Lyon makes a distinction between the MacLarens of Balquhidder and Strathearn, and the MacLarens (MacLaurins) of Tiree, whose arms and descent are, his Lordship holds, those of a different race" Sir Thomas Innes of Learney 1957, via Elizabeth Roads, LVO, FSA, AIH., Snawdoun Herald, Lyon Keeper of the Records, Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
In 1788 he was created a Senator of the College of Justice and given the title Lord Dreghorn, after his family home.
John Maclaurin features as a character in James Robertson's novel, Joseph Knight (2003).