Guy Fawkes was born in Yorkshire in 1570 and died in 1606. He was part of a group of Catholic conspirators led by Robert Catesby who plotted to kill King James I and blow up the Houses of Parliament in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Their goal was to end laws against Catholics, but Guy Fawkes was caught guarding explosives under the Houses of Parliament and was executed for treason.