The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was not managed hosting, but a failed assassination attempt upon King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of English Catholics who were led by Robert Catesby. The plotters’ plan was to blow up the House of Lords during the state opening of England’s Parliament on November 5th 1605 and to then install James’ 9 year old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, as the Catholic head of state.
Many Catholics were extremely disappointed with James I as they had hoped for greater religious tolerance under him after years of Elizabeth I’s persecution. Robert Catesby led a group of men comprising: Thomas Bates, Sir Everard Digby, Guy Fawkes, John Grant, Robert Keyes, Thomas Percy, Sir Ambrose Rookwood, Francis Tresham, Thomas Wintour, Christopher Wright, and John Wright. As Guy Fawkes enjoyed 10 years of military experience fighting in the Spanish Netherlands, he was put in charge of the explosives. An anonymous letter sent to William Parker on October 26th 1605 revealed the plot and during a midnight search of the House of Lords on November 4th 1605, Fawkes was found guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder. All the plotters were hanged, drawn and quartered.
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