Marcus Peter Blakemore was born in Franklin, Indiana. However, he attended common and high school in Anderson, Indiana. He graduated form high school in 1909 and entered Indiana University the following year. As a roommate of Byron K. Armstrong, he became enthusiastic about the new fraternity and contributed significantly to the establishment of Kappa Alpha Nu.

After leaving the university, he organized the Electric Engineering Company, which he operated until he enlisted in World War I. He later entered the Dental School of the University of Pittsburgh, from which he received his D.D.S degree in 1923. He remained in Pittsburgh and maintained a dental practice. Founder Blakemore was very instrumental in the establishment of the Beta Epsilon Chapter at the University of Pittsburgh.