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Dick Whittington and His Cat
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Dick Whittington and His Cat is the English folklore surrounding the real-life Richard Whittington, wealthy merchant and later Lord Mayor of London. 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. However, the real Whittington did not come from a poor family of common stock, and there is no compelling evidence supporting the stories about the cat, or even whether he owned one.
Dick Whittington buys a cat from a woman. Coloured cut from a children's book published in New York, c. 1850 (Dunigan's edition).
Dick Whittington buys a cat from a woman. Coloured cut from a children's book published in New York, c. 1850 (Dunigan's edition).
From title page of The Famous and Remarkable History of Sir Richard Whittington, Three Times Lord-Mayor of London (1770), Thomas and John Fleet, print
From title page of The Famous and Remarkable History of Sir Richard Whittington, Three Times Lord-Mayor of London (1770), Thomas and John Fleet, printers. —Boston Public Library
Dick Whittington and His Cat, a statue in the Guildhall, London.—Laurence Tindall (1999).
Dick Whittington and His Cat, a statue in the Guildhall, London.—Laurence Tindall (1999).
Richard Whittington and his Cat, considered a "fictitious portrait".—Benoist's engraving, after a lost painting at Mercers' Hall, from The New Wonderf
Richard Whittington and his Cat, considered a "fictitious portrait".—Benoist's engraving, after a lost painting at Mercers' Hall, from The New Wonderful Museum, and Extraordinary Magazine (1805).
Richard Whittington
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Richard Whittington 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. He was four times Lord Mayor of London, a member of parliament and a Sheriff of London. In his lifetime he financed a number of public projects, such as drainage systems in poor areas of medieval London, and a hospital ward for unmarried mothers. He bequeathed his fortune to form the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington which, nearly 600 years later, continues to assist people in need.
Richard Whittington, stained glass in the Guildhall, City of London
Richard Whittington, stained glass in the Guildhall, City of London
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 ma
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
"Portraits of Sir Richard Whittington & his cat". Printed in New Wonderful Museum, Vol. III (1805). "from the original painting at Mercers' Hall".
"Portraits of Sir Richard Whittington & his cat". Printed in New Wonderful Museum, Vol. III (1805). "from the original painting at Mercers' Hall".
Image: Arms of Sir Richard Whittington
Image: Arms of Sir Richard Whittington