Robert Catesby

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Robert Catesby
from group sketch
Born 1573
Lapworth, Warwickshire
Died November 8, 1605
Flag of England England Holbeach House, Staffordshire
Penalty never arrested

Robert Catesby (1573November 8, 1605), born in Lapworth, Warwickshire, or possibly in Northamptonshire, to a strongly Roman Catholic family, was the leader of a group of Roman Catholic conspirators (the most notable of whom was Guy Fawkes) who endeavoured to blow up the Houses of Parliament in England in 1605. However, the Gunpowder Plot was uncovered and the barrels of gunpowder defused before any damage was done.[1]


Robert Catesby Guido Fawkes Thomas Winter Thomas Percy John Wright Christopher Wright Robert Winter Thomas Bates

A contemporary sketch of the conspirators. The Dutch artist, Crispijn van de Passe the Elder, probably never met any of the conspirators, but the sketch has become well-known nonetheless.
A contemporary sketch of the conspirators. The Dutch artist, Crispijn van de Passe the Elder, probably never met any of the conspirators, but the sketch has become well-known nonetheless.

Following the discovery of the plot, Catesby and the other conspirators fled to the Midlands. He died three days after the discovery of the plot, at Holbeach House near Kingswinford in Staffordshire, when the house was stormed by constables and deputies. Catesby, Ambrose Rokewood, John Grant and Grant's friend, Henry Morgan all died in the ensuing shootout.[2]

Before the Gunpowder Plot, Catesby was involved with the Earl of Essex in the failed attempt to remove Elizabeth I from power in 1601. He was not executed because of his small role, but was heavily fined, costing him his manor house in Chastleton.

Catesby's father spent a significant part of his life imprisoned for offences related to his Catholic recusancy.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Catesby at Gunplowder plot.org accessed August 2007
  2. ^ Fraser, Antonia. Faith and Treson: The Story of the Gunpowder Plot. pg 184. New York, 1996.
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