Career
McLean owned Matanaka Farm near Waikouaiti from February 1878 until 1892. He represented the Waikouaiti electorate from 1871 to 1872 when he resigned, and from an 1875 by-election to 1881 when he retired. McLean held several ministerial appointments under Vogel and Atkinson: Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs from 1 to 13 September 1876 and 12 January to 13 October 1877.
He was Collector of Customs from 1 September 1876 to 13 October 1877 and (as a MLC) Commissioner of Trade and Customs from 28 August to 3 September 1884.
On 19 December 1881, he was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council and remained a member until his death on 17 February 1917. He was knighted in 1909.
His brother-in-law, the solicitor John White, unsuccessfully contested the Waikouaiti electorate in the 1899 election.