Why Is Robert Burns Important To Scotland 2025. As william shakespeare is england's national bard, robert burns is scotland's. Robert burns, the man who would become the ploughman poet, the bard of ayrshire and finally scotland’s national bard began his life on one such farm.

Robert burns hid his radical and progressive political views “in plain view” while working for the crown during the turbulent years of the late 18th century, it is claimed. Robert burns lit a “cultural touch paper” more than 200 years ago, and the effects are still being felt today, writes alison campsie.