Guy Fawkes was a English Catholic who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries and is best known for his role in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The plot aimed to blow up the House of Lords during the state opening of Parliament, with the intention of killing King James I and replacing the government with a Catholic monarch. Fawkes acted as the explosives expert and was placed in charge of a cache of gunpowder hidden in cellars beneath Westminster Palace. The plan was foiled when authorities discovered the secret powder and captured Fawkes on the night of November 4–5, 1605. Key points

• Early life: Born in York in 1570, later converting to Roman Catholicism and fighting for the Spanish in the Netherlands before returning to England to join the conspirators.
• The plot: The ring of conspirators, led by Robert Catesby, recruited Fawkes for his expertise with explosives; their aim was to destroy Parliament and assassinate King James I.
• Discovery and execution: Fawkes was found guarding the gunpowder and was tortured and tried for high treason in January 1606. He was executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering, though he died when his neck broke during the stakes.
• Legacy: The failure of the plot led to the annual commemoration known as Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night on November 5, with celebrations including bonfires and, in many places, fireworks.

If you’d like, I can tailor this into a brief biographical timeline, provide context on the Gunpowder Plot’s political and religious background, or summarize how Guy Fawkes is depicted in literature and popular culture.