McAleer was born in County Tyrone on the island of Ireland (the entirety of which was then part of the U.K.).

In 1861 he became a partner with his father and brothers in the firm of John McAleer & Sons, flour merchants.

[3] In 1890, he was nominated by the Democratic Party to run for Congress against Richard Vaux, who had just been elected in May 1890 to serve out the term of Samuel J.

[2] Vaux was nominated by the Independent Democrats and had his name on the Republican line; but McAleer won the election by about 3,000 votes.

[4] After his defeat, he was appointed as a committeeman to the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee under a banner of reform.