Carol Ann Duffy

Great Britain has appointed Carol Ann Duffy poet laureate, achieving a trilogy of firsts. She’s the first woman, first openly gay person and first Scot to hold the post, which has existed for more than 300 years.

(In comparison, the United States first had an official “poetry consultant” in 1937 – Joseph Auslander. Its first woman to be the country’s top poet was Louise Bogan in 1945.)

According to the Associated Press, “Duffy, who once said ‘no self-respecting poet’ should have to write verses about the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest son, will be expected to produce poems for royal weddings, funerals and other state occasions.”

Duffy, 53, also said she’d let her 13-year-old daughter decide whether she should accept the 10-year term. “She said, ’Yes mummy, there’s never been a woman,’” Duffy said.

When Andrew Motion was chosen poet laureate 10 years ago over Duffy, her  homosexuality was rumored to be a concern, says the Guardian newspaper of Britain.

Duffy was born in Glasgow, but grew up in England. Sir Walter Scott, born in Edinburgh, was once offered the position but refused.