Lawyer, politician and businessman. Born in Edinburgh, the son Duncan McLaren (1800-86) of who was Lord Provost, McLaren was educated in London, Germany and the University of Edinburgh. Starting as a journalist, he turned to the law and became a barrister in 1884. He was elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Stafford in England (1880-86) and then for Bosworth (1892 - 1910). He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1897 and became a Privy Councillor in 1908.
McLaren was also successful in business. His father-in-law, Henry Davis Pochin (1824-95), was a noted industrialist and after his death McLaren became increasingly involved in running his companies. He was also Chairman of the Tredegar Iron & Coal Company in Wales, the London Metropolitan Railway Company and the shipbuilding firm John Brown & Company in Clydebank.
He was knighted in 1902 and was raised to the Peerage in 1911. He died in London.
