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Robert Catesby

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Outlaw

The Resume

    (circa 1572-November 8, 1605)
    Born in Henley-in-Arden, England, United Kingdom
    Leader of a group of English Catholics who planned the Gunpowder Plot
    Plan was to kill King James I by blowing up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament
    Assassination of King James was to be followed by a revolt to place a Catholic monarch on the throne
    Plot failed when Guy Fawkes was captured guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder in a storage room beneath Parliament (November 4, 1605)
    Fatally shot while making a last stand with half a dozen followers against a company of 200 soldiers

Why he might be annoying:

    He took part in the Earl of Essex’s rebellion that attempted to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I (1601).
    He was imprisoned for trying to instigate a Spanish invasion of England (1603).
    His body was exhumed and decapitated, with his head placed on a spike outside the House of Parliament.
    His failed plot increased anti-Catholic repression in England.
    Despite being the instigator of the Gunpowder Plot, he ended up being overshadowed by Guy Fawkes.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His father had been repeatedly imprisoned for his Catholic faith.
    He left Oxford without a degree to avoid swearing the Oath of Supremacy recognizing the monarch as head of the church.
    A contemporary wrote, ‘His countenance was exceedingly noble.’
    Actor Kit Harington is his direct descendent – and portrayed him in the HBO miniseries ‘Gunpowder.’

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 24 Votes: 50.0% Annoying