Thomas Percy (plotter)

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Thomas Percy (Born around 1560 (exact date not known), died November 8, 1605.) Related by birth to the House of Percy. One of the members of the Gunpowder Plot.

Not much is known of his early life beyond the fact that he attended Cambridge University in England, graduating in 1580. In 1591, he married Martha Wright, sister of Christopher Wright and aunt of John Wright, both later to become co-conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot.

His second cousin, Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, employed Thomas as his agent, responsible for managing his estate; and later as Constable of Alnwick Castle. Thomas was tasked with delivering a letter from Henry, to James VI of Scotland, enquiring about the king's likely policies towards Catholics, if he were to succeed to the British throne.

In 1605, Thomas was recruited by Robert Catesby in the Gunpowder Plot. After the plan failed, he fled London, along with Catesby and Christopher Wright. Their hiding place, Holbech House in Staffordshire, was discovered by the Sheriff of Worcester. After refusing to surrender, Thomas and his co-conspirators were killed by gunfire from the Sheriff's men.


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