Scottish schoolmaster James Macpherson claimed that during his travels through remote areas of Scotland he had discovered the text of an ancient epic poem written by a third-century bard named Ossian.

In 1761 Macpherson published a translation of this poem, titled Fingal. Two years later he translated a second epic poem, Temora. The works became international successes and propelled Macpherson to fame and riches. But other scholars, particulary Samuel Johnson, accused Macpherson of having written the works himself. A bitter controversy ensued until Macpherson's death, at which point scholars got a chance to examine his sources. It then became clear that the poems were principally written by Macpherson himself, not by a third-century Scottish bard.