Career
Born in Dundonald, County Down, McTier was a chandler by trade and a freemason. By then McTier was a widower with a young daughter. He and Martha would have no children of their own.
In 1781 he was declared bankrupt through a combination of bad luck and poor judgement.
Four years later he was working as the ballast master to the new Harbour Commission in Belfast, and later as a notary public. Original members included Thomas Russell, Wolfe Tone, William Drennan, and Samuel Neilson.
Thereafter the McTier home became a centre for United Irish gatherings and meetings Such meetings became dangerous in 1793 after Revolutionary France declared war on Britain. were outlawed and began to operate as a secretive body.
He died suddenly in June 1795 while holidaying in Inveraray, Scotland with Martha.
He left no will, and Martha was forced to live in reduced circumstances for the rest of her long widowhood. She herself died in 1837.
