"While he was born protestant, Guy converted to Catholicism when he was 16. His widowed mother had, in fact, re-married a Catholic man."

"After selling his father’s estate in York, Guy left the country to fight in the Eighty Years war on the side of Catholic Spain against the Dutch Republic – from his military career, he gained the reputation of a man highly skilled in the matters of war, and explosives."

"When Queen Elizabeth I died, King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England and Scotland. At this time, Catholics hoped the new king would be more tolerant to their faith, only to be later disappointed."

"Guy Fawkes travelled to the Catholic Spain to meet with King Philip III to gain his support to the Catholic rebellion against England - in vain."

"Guy Fawkes joined a group of Catholics, formed of 13 men, plotting the assassination of King James I, by blowing up the House of Lords upon the State Opening of the Parliament’s House."

"Guy was in charge of lighting 36 barrels of explosives under the Houses of Parliament, when he was found and arrested before committing his act. The plot had been revealed anonymously by one of the conspirators, fearing the dead of innocent catholics."

"On that day, Londoners were encouraged to celebrate the King’s escape from assassination by lighting bonfire and fireworks. This “Guy Fawkes night” has become a tradition in England, where it is custom to lit bonfire and throw an effigy of a “Guy”."

"Fawkes first gave his name as “John Johnson”, before being tortured on orders of the King to reveal the plot and his fellow conspirators, which he did."

"With seven of his co-conspirators, Guy was trialed in Westminster Hall and sentence d to death. Contrary to popular belief, he was not thrown onto a bonfire, but rather hanged and quartered."

"The American naturalist William Beebe mentions there is an (unhabited) island named “Guy Fawkes” in the Galapagos, Ecuador. This may have to do with Guy Fawkes’ involvement with Spain as a mercenary."

"Since the movie “V for Vendetta”, the stylized Guy Fawkes’ masks has become a symbol for anti-establishments groups, such like the Anonymous, incarnating their commitment to a shared cause."