In 1605, as a protest against the Protestant English Parliament's increasing oppression of Roman Catholics, Guy Fawkes and some fellow conspirators planned to blow up the Parliament building with Protestant King James inside. The so-called Gunpowder Plot failed, but the legend of Guy Fawkes lives on in England, which annually celebrates "Guy Fawkes Day" (or "Bonfire Night") each November 5th.
Fast Facts:
- Born: April 13, 1570 in Stonegate, Yorkshire, England
- Religion: Roman Catholic
- Occupations: Soldier, Assassin, Politician
- Died: January 31, 1606 in Westminster, England
- Has an island in the Galapagos and an Australian river named for him
Timeline
- 1570: Born
- 1591: Inherited father's estates
- 1596: faught with the Spanish during Catholic Inquisition
- 1605: Gunpowder Plot
- 1606: Trial and subsequent deal (suicide)
Gunpowder Plot
Masterminded by Robert Catesby, the Gunpowder Plot was a conspiracy to kill King James I and much of the established aristocracy of England. Fawkes was set to detonate a store of ammunition in the cellar of the House of Lords, when the plot was thwarted. Fawkes was arrested and tortured until he confessed to the conspiracy. He committed suicide before being drawn and quartered.
Historical Figure Timeline
April 13, 1570: Born and Baptized Catholic in Yorkshire, England
1579: Father died and mother remarried into a Catholic family
1593: Enlisted in the Spanish army, and attempted the persuade King Philip II of Spain to invade England
1603: King James of England imposes heavy fines for non-Protestants
1604: Joined Robert Catesby as co-conspirator of the Gunpowder Plot
January 31, 1606: Hung, drawn, and quartered in the Garden of St. Paul's Cathedral
