John Barbour

Likely born around 1320 in or near Aberdeen, John Barbour became archdeacon of Aberdeen and is remembered as one of the earliest great poets writing in the Scots tradition. Records show him traveling to study, and his church career placed him within the educated world of 14th-century Scotland.

He is famous for The Brus, a long narrative poem about Robert the Bruce and the Scottish Wars of Independence. Written in the later 14th century, it blends history, patriotism, and lively storytelling, and it remains the work most closely tied to his name.

Although details of his life are scarce, Barbour's reputation has lasted because his poem became a foundation stone of Scottish literary history. He died in 1395, leaving behind a work that still matters both as literature and as a powerful expression of Scottish identity.