On 19 May 1859 he was promoted to lieutenant, and shortly afterwards was appointed to HMS Sphinx, in which he served on the China station until 1862, being present at several engagements during the second Chinese war, and especially at Taku Forts, for which he received the clasp. In 1863 he went to to qualify as a gunnery lieutenant. In February 1864, Maclear was appointed to , flagship on the China station. He returned to England in her and, in October 1867, was chosen to be first lieutenant of the frigate HMS Octavia, flagship of Commodore Heath in the East Indies. In her he took part in the Abyssinian campaign of 1868, earning the medal and his promotion to commander on 14 August 1868.