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Guy Fawkes Facts

Guy Fawkes Facts
Guy Fawkes was a conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, which was an attempt by oppressed Roman Catholics in Britain to blow up the House of Parliament. Guy Fawkes was born on April 13th, 1570 in York, England. He was born to Edward and Edith Fawkes, the second of four children born to the couple. Guy was eight when his father died and his mother later remarried a Catholic. Guy Fawkes converted to Catholicism when he was 16. The Catholic Church was not tolerated by the Church of England and they could not worship freely. The Gunpowder Plot was a conspiracy that led to Guy Fawkes being tried and hung for his part. Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated in Britain today with bonfires and fireworks to remember the Gunpowder Plot and Guy's role in the event.
Interesting Guy Fawkes Facts:
Guy Fawkes liked to be known as Guido Fawkes. After his arrest Guy gave the name John Johnson to the authorities. This was the name he also used during the Gunpowder Plot's design.
Guy Fawkes served in the Spanish army during the Eighty Years War.
Guy Fawkes was educated at St. Peter's School in York. St. Peters does not celebrate Bonfire Night (Another name for Guy Fawkes Day).
The Gunpowder Plot was a plan to blow up 2,500 kg of gunpowder on November 5th, 1605, that had been hidden underneath the House of Parliament. This was to be the day of the State Opening, and the explosion would have killed King James I, and everyone in the building as well.
Guy Fawkes role in the Gunpowder Plot was to guard the hidden gunpowder and to light it at the right time.
King James I saw a letter that had been written to Lord Monteagle, warning him to avoid the House of Parliament on November 5th. Lord Monteagle was a friend of one of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators. This letter gave the plot away.
Before the Gunpowder Plot could be carried out, Guy Fawkes was arrested. He was guarding the 36 barrels of deadly gunpowder in the cellar of the House of Parliament at the time.
Guy Fawkes was tortured for four days before he gave up the others involved in the Gunpowder Plot.
The names of the other conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot include John Wright, Thomas Percy, Francis Tresham, Sir Everard Digby, Ambrose Rookwood, John Grant, Thomas Bates, Robert Keyes, Robert Wintour, Thomas Wintour, and Robert Catesby.
Guy Fawkes signed a confession, which is still in the National Archives.
Guy Fawkes and the rest of the conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot were tried in court on January 31st, 1606. They were hung, drawn and quartered for their attempted crime and the plot.
Some believe that Guy Fawkes was thrown into a bonfire after his conviction but it is not true. People today make straw dummies of Guy Fawkes and throw them into bonfires to celebrate the day.
Guy Fawkes Day is also referred to as Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night and Firework Night in Great Britain.
Despite his crime Guy Fawkes was named by the BBC in 2002 the 30th Greatest Briton.


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