Vladimir Lenin described him as one of the "best-known names of the isolated heroes who have taken upon themselves the arduous role of forerunners of the world revolution." He has been described by his daughter Nan Milton and by the publication CounterFire as the "Scottish Lenin". The magazine Socialist Appeal has labeled him a "Marxist who played an outstanding role in promoting the ideas and cause of Marxism... worked like a Trojan to promote the principles of Marxism amongst the working class of Scotland" The National describes him as "a man who most knowledgeable Scots would consider a legend, indeed an almost mythical Celtic giant of socialism". David Sherry, author of the book 'John Maclean: Red Clydesider' considers him an "outstanding revolutionary leader".