He married Sophia, the daughter of Conservative politician William Lees and granddaughter of Andrew W.

[7][8][9] Further accusations came from the opposition claiming the decision was motivated, as McLaren who petitioned for disallowance was a known political friend of Macdonald.

[11] Gérard La Forest believed the report authorizing the disallowance was not authored by justice minister James McDonald but was actually written by John A. Macdonald, as McDonald would cease his role as justice minister only a few days after its publication.

[11][8] The issue was settled in the landmark case McLaren v Caldwell by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council which upheld the enactment.

[12][13] McLaren was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1890 on the advice of John Alexander Macdonald representing the senatorial division of Perth, Ontario.