John MacDonald, known as Iain Lom was a Cavalier poet and Tacksman of Allt a' Chaorainn from Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, who composed war poetry in Scottish Gaelic. In addition to being appointed by King Charles II as the first Poet Laureate of Scotland, Iain Lom has long been considered to have a permanent place in the canon of Scottish Gaelic literature.

The cavalier poets was a school of English poets of the 17th century, that came from the classes that supported King Charles I during the English Civil War (1642–1651). Charles, a connoisseur of the fine arts, supported poets who created the art he craved. These poets in turn grouped themselves with the King and his service, thus becoming Cavalier Poets.