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Robert Catesby

(1573-1605), Leader of the Gunpowder plot

Sitter in 8 portraits
Robert Catesby was born in Lapworth, Warwickshire, to a strongly Roman Catholic family. In 1601 he sided with the Earl of Essex in the latter's doomed rebellion. He was wounded, imprisoned and fined £3,000 for his part in this affair. Catesby was the leader of a group of Roman Catholic conspirators (the most famous of whom was Guy Fawkes) who endeavoured to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5 November 1605. The plot was uncovered, the gunpowder defused, and Catesby was shot three days later.

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The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, 1605, by Crispijn de Passe the Elder - NPG 334a

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, 1605

by Crispijn de Passe the Elder
engraving, circa 1605
NPG 334a

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, by Heinrich Ulrich - NPG D28146

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators

by Heinrich Ulrich
line engraving, early 17th century
On display at Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, Australia
NPG D28146

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, 1605, by Unknown artist - NPG D2334

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, 1605

by Unknown artist
collotype, (circa 1605)
NPG D2334

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, 1605, by Unknown engraver - NPG D19881

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, 1605

by Unknown engraver
engraving, 1606
NPG D19881

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, after Heinrich Ulrich - NPG D28145

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators

after Heinrich Ulrich
etching, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D28145

Robert Catesby, by Adam - NPG D21072

Robert Catesby

by Adam
line engraving, published 1794
NPG D21072

Robert Catesby, by Adam, published by James Caulfield, published by Isaac Herbert - NPG D21073

Robert Catesby

by Adam, published by James Caulfield, published by Isaac Herbert
line engraving, published 1794
NPG D21073

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, 1605, after Crispijn de Passe the Elder - NPG D42676

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, 1605

after Crispijn de Passe the Elder
photogravure, published 1902 (circa 1605)
NPG D42676

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