John and Christopher Wright

Gunpowder Plot

John and Christopher Wright
A contemporary engraving of Christopher (left) and John Wright, from a larger image by Crispijn van de Passe
Details
Parents	Robert Wright, Ursula Rudston
Born	January 1568 (JW), 1570 (CW) Yorkshire
Spouse(s)	Dorothy (JW), Margaret Ward (CW)
Children	Daughter (JW)
Plot
Role	Non-specific
Enlisted	Early 1604 (JW), Spring 1605 (CW)
Died	8 November 1605 (both) Holbeche House, Staffordshire
Cause	Shot

John (Jack) Wright (January 1568 – 8 November 1605), and Christopher (Kit) Wright (1570? – 8 November 1605), were members of the group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a conspiracy to assassinate King James I by blowing up the House of Lords. Their sister married another plotter, Thomas Percy. Educated at the same school in York, the Wrights had early links with Guy Fawkes, the man left in charge of the explosives stored in the undercroft beneath the House of Lords. As known recusants the brothers were on several occasions arrested for reasons of national security. Both were also members of the Earl of Essex's rebellion of 1601.

John was one of the first men to join the conspiracy, which was led by Robert Catesby. Christopher joined in March 1605. At about midnight on 4 November Fawkes was discovered and arrested, following which John, Christopher and the rest of the conspirators travelled across the Midlands, attempting to gain support for a popular uprising. Eventually the group opted to wait for the authorities at Holbeche House, on the border of Staffordshire. On 8 November the Sheriff of Worcester arrived with a large group of armed men, and both brothers were killed in the ensuing firefight.

John and Christopher Wright were born to Robert Wright and his second wife, Ursula Rudston, daughter of Nicholas and Jane Rudston of Hayton. John was baptised at Welwick in Yorkshire, on 16 January 1568, and Christopher was born in 1570. Their sister, Martha, married Thomas Percy in 1591.