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Dick Whittington and His Cat is the English folklore surrounding the real-life Richard Whittington (c. 1354–1423), wealthy merchant and later Lord Mayor of London. [1] The legend describes his rise from poverty-stricken childhood with the fortune he made through the sale of his cat to a rat-infested country.
Dick Whittington was an English merchant and lord mayor of London who became a well-known figure in legend and traditional pantomime. Whittington, who was the son of a knight of Gloucestershire, opened a mercer’s shop in London that supplied velvets and damasks to such notables as Henry Bolingbroke.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Richard Whittington (c. 1354 – March 1423) of the parish of St Michael Paternoster Royal, City of London, was an English merchant and a politician of the late medieval period. He is also the real-life inspiration for the English folk tale Dick Whittington and His Cat.
Feb 14, 2024 · Dick Whittington was a famous historical figure who is known for his rags-to-riches story and his contributions to the city of London. Eventually, he became mayor of the City of London, was a member of Parliament, and at one time the sheriff of London.
Sep 25, 2023 · Over the past 200 years, Dick Whittington has become one of Britain’s best-loved pantomime heroes. Yet, as Michael McCarthy tells Jon Bauckham, the real-life story that inspired Dick’s rags to riches tale is even more remarkable than the fiction.
There is a statue of Whittington and his cat on Highgate Hill, the place where Dick supposedly stood and heard the calling of the Bow Bells, compelling him to return. With such celebrated status, what can be said of the real life inspiration behind such a story?
May 14, 2018 · Whittington, Dick (d. 1423), English merchant and Lord Mayor of London; full name Sir Richard Whittington. Whittington was a mercer who became Lord Mayor three times (1397–8; 1406–7; 1419–20) and left legacies for rebuilding Newgate Prison and establishing a city library.
