Archie McLean was born in
Balmain, New South Wales on 27 March 1885. He was the grandson of Scottish migrants from Balmaha on the east side of Loch Lomond. He attended
Five Dock Public School and later
Fort Street High School before completing a Bachelor of Arts at the
University of Sydney in 1906. He then studied medicine and graduated as a
Master of Surgery in 1911. He was selected to join the Australasian Antarctic Expedition in 1911 as chief medical officer. Part of his role on the expedition was to study the effects of the Antarctic environment on other members of the expedition by taking regular blood samples and skin swabs. He took part in the Easter Sledging Journey with
Cecil Madigan and
Percy Correll, and after their return to main base remained there awaiting the return of Mawson,
Xavier Mertz and
Lieutenant Belgrave Ninnis. When Mawson returned, McLean treated his injuries and later treated wireless operator
Sidney Jeffryes for symptoms of paranoia. He arrived back in Australia in March 1914 and then travelled with Mawson to England. ==References==