[1] He was born on 2 February 1887 the son of Peter Buchanan McLintock, a laundry owner at Deanbank in Stockbridge, Edinburgh.
He was educated at George Heriot's School then studied science at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a BSc in 1907.
After University McLintock immediately started work as a geologist with the Geological Survey of Great Britain under Ben Peach and John Horne.
[3] In 1936 he stood in as Acting Director of the Geological Survey after the unexpected death of Bernard Smith (geologist), and pending the appointment of Edward Battersby Bailey.
He married late in life, in 1939 (aged 52) a widow, Mrs Maude Alice Marshall.