Dick Whittington

Sir Richard Whittington

Dick Whittington, properly Sir Richard Whittington (1354 – March 1423), was four times Lord Mayor of London, a member of parliament and a Sheriff of London. He had no children and left his fortune (£7,000 equivalent to £6,300,000 in 2021) to form the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington.

His life was well known. He became a character in an English story that was adapted for the stage as a play, The History of Richard Whittington, of his lowe byrth, his great fortune, in February 1604. This was turned into a pantomime called Dick Whittington and His Cat. This tells how Dick, a boy from a poor Gloucestershire family, sets out for London to make his fortune, accompanied by, or later acquiring, his cat. At first he meets with little success, and is tempted to return home. However, on his way out of the city, whilst climbing Highgate Hill he hears the Bow Bells of London ringing, and believes they are sending him a message. There is now a large hospital on Highgate Hill, named the Whittington Hospital. A traditional rhyme associated with this tale is:

Turn again, Whittington,

Once Lord Mayor of London!

Turn again, Whittington,

Twice Lord Mayor of London!

Turn again, Whittington,

Thrice Lord Mayor of London!

Dick Whittington Media

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  Richard Whittington, 19th c. engraving after original c.1590 by Reginald Elstrack (1570 – after 1625).Original engraving depicted a skull, changed to a cat by printseller Peter Stent to meet popular expectations. Arms: Whittington, FitzWaryn, Worshipful Company of Mercers, Merchant Adventurers Company of London; also two small shields with his merchant mark

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  Richard Whittington, stained glass in the Guildhall, City of London

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  Merchant mark of Richard Whittington, as shown in his portrait c.1590 by Reginald Elstrack

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  Whittington on his death bed, at his side the four executors of his will, John Coventre, John White, clerk, John Carpenter, and William Grove, with many of the beneficiaries of his charities at the foot of his bed. A physician examines a bottle of urine