He attended Upper Canada College before enlisting in the army during World War II where he served with the 48th Highlanders.
After the war, he studied at the University of Toronto and graduated with a degree in law from Osgoode Hall.
In 1958, Premier of Ontario Leslie Frost appointed him to the cabinet as minister without portfolio with responsibilities in the Treasury Board.
[5] When Frost retired, Macaulay ran to succeed him in the 1961 Progressive Conservative leadership convention finishing third on the fifth ballot.
[8] Macaulay retained his seat in the 1963 Ontario election, but he resigned from cabinet shortly afterwards citing health reasons.