John Barbour was a significant Scottish poet and the first major named literary figure to write in Scots. He served as the Archdeacon of Aberdeen and held several royal appointments, indicating his respected status. His most famous work is the epic historical poem 'The Brus,' which chronicles the life and heroic deeds of King Robert the Bruce during the First War of Scottish Independence. This work is considered a national epic of Scotland and provides a foundational text for Scottish identity and literature.