Cloran was called to the Quebec bar in 1887.
He served on a commission formed by the Quebec government to report on jury systems in use in Canada and the United States and also served as Crown Attorney for Montreal.
Cloran was editor of the Catholic newspapers the Daily Post and the True Witness.
Cloran was one of the founders of the Montreal Trades and Labour Council.
In 1882, he married Agnes Donovan.
Cloran moved to Hawkesbury, Ontario around 1891.
Cloran was an unsuccessful candidate in the federal riding of Montreal Centre as a Liberal in 1887 and in Prescott as a Patrons of Industry candidate in 1896 and then as a Liberal in 1900.
He served as reeve and mayor of Hawkesbury from 1894 to 1901.