Robert Catesby (1573 – November 18, 1605), born in Lapworth, Warwickshire, or possibly in Northamptonshire, to a strongly Roman Catholic family, was the leader of a group of Roman Catholic conspirators (the most notable of whom was Guy Fawkes) who endeavoured to blow up the Houses of Parliament in England in 1605. However, the Gunpowder Plot was uncovered and the barrels of gunpowder defused before any damage was done.[1]
A contemporary sketch of the conspirators. The Dutch artist, Crispijn van de Passe the Elder, probably never met any of the conspirators, but the sketch has become well-known nonetheless.Following the discovery of the plot, Catesby and the other conspirators fled to the Midlands. He died three days after the discovery of the plot at Holbeach House near Kingswinford in Staffordshire during a shoot-out with officers sent to arrest him.
Before the Gunpowder Plot, Catesby was involved with the Earl of Essex in the failed attempt to remove Elizabeth I from power in 1601. He was not executed because of his small role, but heavily fined costing him his manor house in Chastleton.
Catesby's father had spent a significant part of his life imprisoned for offences related to his Catholic faith.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Catesby http://www.gunpowder-plot.org/catesby.asp