The position of Makar, also known in English as "National Poet for Scotland", was created in February 2004 by the Scottish Government under then first minister Jack McConnell.

Speaking about the creation of the position, first minister Jack McConnell claimed that "it is vitally important that we recognise the significant contribution of poetry to the culture of Scotland".

Following Morgan's death in 2010, he was succeeded by Liz Lochhead as Makar, who was appointed in January 2011 by first minister Alex Salmond.

Additionally, following Morgan's death and the appointment of Lochhead, the position of Makar was changed to carry a maximum term of five years without renewal, with the overall ambition of "advancing the use of poetry in the lives of the people of Scotland".

[5] In 2004, Makar Edwin Morgan wrote a piece for the official opening of the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh.