Guy Fawkes, a prominent figure in English history, was one of the principal conspirators of the “Gunpowder Plot” to overthrow Protestant King James I of England. The plan failed, and Fawkes and his co-conspirators were publicly executed. Fawkes was born into a Protestant family and adhered to the ‘Church of England.’ After the passing of his father, his mother remarried. The beliefs of Fawkes’ stepfather were Roman Catholic. Fawkes progressively converted to Catholicism and began plotting rebellion against the Protestant monarch. He moved to Spain and joined the Spanish resistance against the Dutch Protestants. During his time in Spain, Fawkes changed his name to Guido Fawkes. He sought the support of King Philip III of Spain in order to launch a Catholic rebellion in England. The Spanish monarch, however, denied his support. Later, Fawkes was introduced to Robert Catesby, the chief of the ‘Gunpowder Plot conspirators. Fawkes returned to England under a false name with the intention of blowing up the “Parliament of England” and overthrowing the monarch. Fawkes and others were apprehended after the plot was discovered. After a comprehensive interrogation, Fawkes disclosed his plan in detail. He was soon publicly executed. In Britain, the date of his execution is still commemorated as the day the sovereign triumphed over conspirators.
Youth and Early Life
Guy Fawkes was born in Stonegate, York, in 1570. The precise date of his birth cannot be determined. According to some records, he was baptized on April 16. It is presumed that Fawkes was born on April 13 due to the fact that baptism is typically performed three days after the date of birth. His father, Edward Fawkes, was a consistory court proctor and advocate in York. Fawkes was the second of four children to be born to Edward and Edith.
Fawkes’s family adhered to the ‘Church of England,’ whereas his mother’s family adhered to the pope-loyal recusant Catholics. When Fawkes was eight years old, his father passed away. Following the demise of Fawkes’s father, his mother married the Catholic Denis Bainbridge. Fawkes attended York’s ‘St. Peter’s School. Reclusive Catholicism was a characteristic of the school’s faculty. As a result of his Catholic family ties and his education at a Catholic school, Fawkes became a devout Catholic.
Fawkes entered the service of Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu, after concluding his education. The viscount was dissatisfied with Fawkes and fired him. Later, he joined Anthony-Maria Browne, 2nd Viscount Montagu’s service.
Guy Fawkes’s Career
Fawkes sold the estate he had inherited from his father in October 1591 and traveled to other European countries. He entered the war against the Dutch Republic on the side of Catholic Spain. Between 1595 and 1598, he fought France. Fawkes joined Sir William Stanley, a veteran soldier, and English Catholic. Fawkes began as a junior officer and courageously fought alongside Sir Stanley’s soldiers. Later, he was suggested for the position of commander.
Fawkes traveled to Spain in 1603 to seek King Philip III’s support in launching a Catholic rebellion in England. Fawkes altered his name to Guido, its Italian equivalent. He asserted that King James I was attempting to exterminate all Catholics in England. King Philip III, however, declined to support Fawkes.
Fawkes met a party of English Catholics planning a rebellion in England in 1604. Robert Catesby was the group’s commander. They intended to kill the king and transfer the throne over to his daughter, Princess Elizabeth. In May 1604, the five principal conspirators met for the first time at the “Duck and Drake” inn in London.
Catesby had devised a plan to use pyrotechnics to blow up the “Parliament of England.” To effectuate the plan, they required outside assistance. Thomas Wintour, one of the perpetrators, set out on a mission to gain outside support. Guy Fawkes was introduced to him by exiled Welsh agent Hugh Owen. Many years had passed since Fawkes’ departure from England, and he was relatively unknown in the country. Consequently, he was included in the plot to detonate the “Parliament of England.”
Fawkes returned to England in 1604 to complete his mission. Using the alias “John Johnson,” he concealed his true identity. Thomas Percy, who was one of the major conspirators, was also employed by the crown. Fawkes was designated as one of his servants. Fawkes and his associates intended to construct a tunnel from one of the adjacent buildings to the “House of Lords.” The conspirators gained access to one of the underground storage cellars beneath the ‘House of Lords while tunneling. This made their lives easier.
The conspirators stored gunpowder for the detonation in the basement. They accumulated twenty casks of gunpowder. The opening of “The Parliament of England” was however delayed due to the looming prospect of a plague outbreak. Fawkes then traveled to other nations to solicit aid for the Catholics.
Fawkes returned to the United Kingdom in August 1605. By that time, all of the gunpowder stowed in the basement had decomposed. The conspirators brought in new supplies and completed their scheme. Fawkes was tasked with starting the fire, after which he was to flee across the Thames. In addition, they intended to capture Princess Elizabeth.
Some conspirators feared for the safety of their family members who would attend the inauguration of the “House of Lords.” The information was leaked and ultimately reached the monarch. Fawkes was discovered guarding the gunpowder after an examination of the underground cellars was ordered by the monarch. Guy Fawkes was captured by the monarch’s army on November 5, 1605, following his failed attempt to assassinate the king.
Fawkes was defiant during the initial interrogations, claiming his name was “John Johnson.” The individual was then transported to the ‘Tower of London.’ Then, severe torture ensued. Eventually, Fawkes disclosed his and his fellow conspirators’ identities. The shaky and scribbled appearance of Fawkes’ signature after his apprehension demonstrated that he had endured extreme torture.
All members of the “Gunpowder Plot” were apprehended. In January 1606, their trial started. They were all convicted of high treason and sentenced to execution by a jury. They were to be executed midway between heaven and earth because they were unworthy of both.
Fawkes and three other conspirators were carried from the ‘Tower of London to Westminster on January 31, 1606. His companions were executed, and he was the last man to stand on the scaffold. He begged for forgiveness before ascending the ladder. He then fell from the ladder and fractured his neck, thereby avoiding the remainder of the execution. It is unclear whether he jumped to his demise or the rope was improperly installed. This marked the end of England’s most infamous antihero.
Fawkes’s Personal Life
Little is known about Guy Fawkes’ personal life. According to some sources, he was married and had a son. However, no records exist to substantiate this. On November 5, 1605, Londoners lit bonfires to commemorate the king’s escape from the assassination plot. The practice has persisted throughout the years. Parliament of England declared November 5 to be a day of thanksgiving. This law remained in effect until 1859.
In England, November 5 is still known as Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night. It has become part of London’s cultural celebrations. On this day, children construct Guy’s effigies out of discarded clothing and newspapers. The effigy is adorned with a Guy Fawkes mask and burned alongside pyrotechnics.
The English novelist William Harrison Ainsworth penned “Guy Fawkes; or, The Gunpowder Plot” in 1841. The novel’s portrayal of Fawkes in a sympathetic manner significantly altered the public’s perception of him. He was also depicted as an action hero in comic books for youth. According to historian Lewis Call, Fawkes is “a major icon in modern political culture” whose face has become “a potentially potent tool for the expression of postmodern anarchism.”
Estimated Net Worth
The guy is one of the wealthiest and most well-known criminals. Based on our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider, Guy Fawkes has a net worth of $5 million.