Archibald McLean was born September 25, 1860, in Aldborough, Ontario, to James McLean and Clementine McMurchy. His parents were both farmers. In 1881, McLean moved west to Virden, Manitoba. While working, he learnt how to raise and handle livestock. About 5 years later, McLean moved further west to the District of Alberta from to work as a ranch hand and foreman. His experience led him to a management position a year later at the CY Ranch of the Cypress Cattle Company, located near present-day Taber, Alberta. With his help, it turned into one of the largest growers of cattle for export. McLean later became the ranch's owner. He married Margaret E. Duncan on December 15, 1904, in Hamilton, Ontario. Margaret died two years after giving birth to their only son. McLean then established his own cattle company in London to facilitate the sale and export of cattle throughout the British Isles. He sold the company in 1905. McLean was first elected as an Independent Liberal for the Lethbridge constituency in the 1909 Alberta general election. His election to the legislature made him one of the first two independents elected in Alberta history, the other being Edward Michener. On June 1, 1910, he accepted an appointment by Premier Arthur Lewis Sifton to cross the floor to the government and join the cabinet to become the new Provincial Secretary. He was acclaimed in a ministerial by-election on June 22, 1910, and officially took over the position. He served as minister of municipal affairs, and as minister of public works. McLean was re-elected to a second term, this time in the new Taber provincial electoral district in the 1913 Alberta general election. He defeated two other candidates in a landslide victory. McLean would be re-elected to his third and final term in the 1917 Alberta general election. The election was hotly contested but with Conservative candidate Thomas King providing a strong showing, but McLean still won with an 800-vote plurality. In the 1921 Alberta general election, he would run again attempting to win a fourth term in office and a fifth straight election but was defeated by candidate Lawrence Peterson from the United Farmers of Alberta in a tight race. After his loss, McLean left politics to return to ranching on the Piikani reserve. Archibald McLean died October 13, 1933, in Macleod, Alberta. He was buried at the Union Cemetery in Macleod. McLean lived to the age of 73. His funeral had over 500 people in attendance, and the Fort MacleodGazette described his memorial service as being "probably the largest funeral ever held in southern Alberta".
