Guy Fawkes
English Catholic conspirator in the failed Gunpowder Plot.
Guy Fawkes was born in 1570 in York, the second of four children. His father, a proctor and advocate in the city’s consistory court, died when Guy was eight years old. His mother later remarried, choosing a Catholic husband, and Fawkes likely converted to Catholicism through this family connection, as well as through his education at St. Peter’s School in York. That school’s headmaster came from a noted recusant family, and several of Fawkes’s fellow students later became priests or fellow conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot. After leaving school, Fawkes briefly served a viscount, but was dismissed and then employed by the viscount’s grandson.
Fawkes sold the estate he had inherited from his father and traveled to mainland Europe to fight for Catholic Spain in the Eighty Years’ War against Dutch Protestant forces. He served under an English Catholic commander who had switched sides to Spain, became a junior officer, and fought well at the siege of Calais in 1596. By 1603, he was recommended for a captaincy. That same year, he traveled to Spain under the Italian name Guido, seeking support for a Catholic rebellion in England. He described the new English king, James I, as a heretic and denounced Scotland and the king’s Scottish nobles, but his request for aid was politely received without result.
Returning to England, Fawkes met Thomas Wintour, who introduced him to Robert Catesby, the plot’s leader. The conspirators leased a cellar beneath the House of Lords, and Fawkes was put in charge of the gunpowder stored there. An anonymous letter prompted a search of Westminster Palace early on 5 November 1605, and Fawkes was found guarding the explosives. He was tortured and confessed to intending to blow up the House of Lords. Sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, he died on 31 January 1606 when his neck was broken during the hanging; some accounts claim he jumped to hasten his death and avoid the rest of the sentence. His failure is commemorated annually in the UK as Guy Fawkes Night, when his effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire with fireworks.
- born
- c. 13 April 1570, York, England
- died
- 31 January 1606, London, England
- field
- Soldier, conspirator
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Gunpowder Plot of 1605
Lore & Background
Guy Fawkes was born in 1570 in Stonegate, York, the second of four children. His father, a proctor and advocate of the consistory court, died when Fawkes was eight years old. His mother later married a recusant Catholic, and Fawkes likely converted to Catholicism through this family connection, as well as through his education at St. Peter’s School in York, whose headmaster came from a noted recusant family. After school, he served two successive Viscounts Montagu, though the first dismissed him. He then sold the estate he had inherited and travelled to mainland Europe to fight for Catholic Spain in the Eighty Years’ War against Protestant Dutch reformers. Serving under Sir William Stanley, an English Catholic commander who had switched sides to Spain, Fawkes became a junior officer and fought well at the siege of Calais in 1596. By 1603, he had been recommended for a captaincy. That year, he travelled to Spain, adopting the Italian name Guido, to seek support for a Catholic rebellion in England, denouncing King James I as a heretic, but was unsuccessful. He later met Thomas Wintour and returned to England, where Wintour introduced him to Robert Catesby, who planned to assassinate the king and restore a Catholic monarch. The plotters leased an undercroft beneath the House of Lords, and Fawkes was placed in charge of the gunpowder stockpiled there. Discovered guarding the explosives after an anonymous letter prompted a search, he was tortured and confessed. Sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered, he died on 31 January 1606 when his neck was broken during the hanging, with some sources claiming he deliberately jumped to avoid the agony of the full sentence. His effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire each Guy Fawkes Night, commemorating the plot’s failure on 5 November 1605.
Reader's Guide
The Gunpowder Plot, in which Fawkes was a central figure, aimed to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament. The plot was foiled when authorities, prompted by an anonymous letter, searched Westminster Palace and found Fawkes guarding the explosives. He was tortured and confessed. His execution on 31 January 1606 was notable because he died when his neck was broken as he was hanged, possibly by jumping deliberately, thus avoiding the full agony of being drawn and quartered. The failure of the plot is commemorated annually in the UK on 5 November as Guy Fawkes Night, when his effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, commonly accompanied by fireworks. Fawkes became synonymous with the plot, and his name endures as a symbol of rebellion.
Did You Know?
- Fawkes was baptised in the church of St Michael le Belfrey, York on 16 April 1570.
- He adopted the Italian name Guido while seeking Spanish support for a Catholic rebellion.
- He was described by a former school friend as 'pleasant of approach and cheerful of manner'.
- At his execution, he died when his neck was broken as he was hanged, possibly by jumping deliberately.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy." — Guy Fawkes "... to blow you Scotch beggars back to your native mountains." — Guy Fawkes "Traditional rhyme recited on Guy Fawkes Night, the 5th of November, when effigies of him are traditionally burned." — Guy Fawkes "Remember, remember, the fifth of November,The Gunpowder Treason and plot.I know of no reason why the Gunpowder TreasonShould ever be forgot." — Guy Fawkes
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