John Barbour 1316?-1395

John Barbour was born in Aberdeen and became the archdeacon of that city in 1357. He studied at Oxford and Paris. He was appointed clerk of audit and auditor of the Exchequer to Robert III, grandson of Robert the Bruce.

His poem, The Bruce (1375), celebrates Scotland's war of Independence against the English and praises the deeds of King Robert I and James Douglas. Two other recorded works by him, The Brut and The Stewart's Original, have been lost.