Dick Whittington

Most English people are familiar with the legend of Dick Whittington and his cat.
The legend is that Dick Whittington, a poor country boy,
came to London with his cat seeking his fortune.
When he reached Highgate Hill, he lost heart and turned
to go back home. Then he heard the bells of London ringing out saying
"Turn again, Dick Whittington, three times Lord Mayor of London."

Now here is the real story of
Richard Whitttington, four times Mayor of London....

He was born in Pauntley, Gloucestershire, sometime around 1350, and was the youngest son of a local landowner. He really did leave his home to go to London but, as far as we know, he didn't take a cat. He was apprenticed as a Mercer - a dealer in cloth. When he had served his apprenticeship he became a member of the Mercers' Company (a medieval guild of merchants) and a wealthy and successful merchant selling luxurious fabrics like cloth of gold to the king.

He was living and trading in London during the turbulent days of Richard II's reign when the king was often at odds with Londoners. The relationship deteriorated to such an extent that a corporate fine of £100,000 (an enormous sum at the time) was levied on the city and the mayor and sheriffs were dismissed, leaving London under direct royal control. Eventually some control was returned to Londoners although the king imposed Richard Whittington as mayor in 1397.

When Richard II was deposed and replaced by Henry IV, Whittington, surprisingly did not suffer too. He was elected mayor for a further three terms, 1397-8, 1406-7 and 1419-20. He also lent King Henry considerable sums of money and, in return, sat on many Royal Commissions. Loans to the king were usually repaid by the king assigning a royal income source to the creditor who could then collect the income until the loan and interest were repaid.

Richard Whittington died in March 1423. His wife had already died and the couple had no children. His estate of £5000 (an amount equivalent to several million now) was used for charitable purposes. These included rebuilding Newgate Prison, the building the first library in Guildhall, work on St Bartholomew's Hospital and establishing almshouses for poor people.

Amazingly, Sir Richard Whittington's charitable bequests are still benefiting people today. The almshouses were entrusted to the management of the Mercers Company who still administers them. Originally they were built on College Hill in the City of London. In the 19th century they were moved to Highgate and then in 1966, the almhouses were rebuilt in Felbridge, West Sussex. Sixty elderly women and a few married couples live in them. The charitable bequest has grown so much over the centuries that in 1822 the work of the trust was extended to cover paying an allowance to people on very low incomes. The beneficiaries of these out-pensions, as they are known, now number 300.

Even if the legend of Dick Whittington is false, perhaps the truth is even more amazing. Richard Whittington survived as a prominent City merchant through turbulent times. Even more astounding, the charitable trust he created nearly 600 years ago is still helping people today.