Richard Whittington (c. 1354–1423) of the parish of
St Michael Paternoster Royal
St Michael Paternoster Royal is a church in the City of London. The original building, which was first recorded in the 13th century, was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The church was rebuilt under the aegis of Sir Christopher Wr ...
,
City of London
The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...
, 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 (appointed once, elected three times)
Lord Mayor of London
The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the City of London and the leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded precedence over all individuals except the sovereign and retains various traditional pow ...
, a
member of parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
and a
Sheriff of London
Two sheriffs are elected annually for the City of London by the Liverymen of the City livery companies. Today's sheriffs have only nominal duties, but the historical officeholders had important judicial responsibilities. They have attended the ju ...
. 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.
Origins
He was born, in around the early 1350s, into an ancient and wealthy
Gloucestershire gentry
Gentry (from Old French ''genterie'', from ''gentil'', "high-born, noble") are "well-born, genteel and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past.
Word similar to gentle imple and decentfamilies
''Gentry'', in its widest c ...
family. The 3rd son of Sir William Whittington (d.1358) of Pauntley, in the
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. It forms a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and northwest, Herefordshire to ...
, Gloucestershire, a
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
, by his wife Joan Maunsell, a daughter of William Maunsell (or Mansel), MP for
Gloucestershire,
Sheriff of Gloucestershire
This is a list of Sheriffs and High Sheriffs of Gloucestershire, who should not be confused with the Sheriffs of the City of Gloucester.
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown (in England and Wales the office previously kn ...
in 1313. His elder brothers were
Robert Whittington (d.1423/4), six times a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire, and William Whittington, MP, the eldest brother.
Early life
As a younger son, under the system of
primogeniture he would not expect to inherit his father's estate, and thus was sent to the
City of London
The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...
to learn the trade of
mercer. He became a successful merchant, dealing in valuable imports such as silks and
velvets, both luxury fabrics, much of which he sold to royalty and nobility from about 1388. There is indirect evidence that he was also a major exporter to Europe of much sought after English
woollen cloth such as
broadcloth
Broadcloth is a dense, plain woven cloth, historically made of wool. The defining characteristic of broadcloth is not its finished width but the fact that it was woven much wider (typically 50 to 75% wider than its finished width) and then he ...
. From 1392 to 1394 he sold goods to King
Richard II worth £3,500 (). He also began
money-lending
In finance, a loan is the lending of money by one or more individuals, organizations, or other entities to other individuals, organizations, etc. The recipient (i.e., the borrower) incurs a debt and is usually liable to pay interest on that de ...
in 1388, preferring this to outward shows of wealth such as buying property. By 1397 he was also lending large sums of money to the king.
In 1384 Whittington had become a
Councilman
A councillor is an elected representative for a local government council in some countries.
Canada
Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unl ...
of the
City of London
The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...
. In 1392 he was one of the City's delegation to the king at
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , locally ) is a city and unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east of Sheffield and north-east of Birmingham. Nottingham has links to the legend of Robi ...
at which the king seized the City of London's lands because of alleged misgovernment. By 1393, he had become an
alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members t ...
and was appointed
Sheriff of the City of London
Two sheriffs are elected annually for the City of London by the Liverymen of the City livery companies. Today's sheriffs have only nominal duties, but the historical officeholders had important judicial responsibilities. They have attended the ju ...
by the incumbent mayor, William Staundone, as well as becoming a member of the
Worshipful Company of Mercers
The Worshipful Company of Mercers is the premier Livery Company of the City of London and ranks first in the order of precedence of the Companies. It is the first of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies. Although of even older origin, the c ...
. Two days after the death of
Adam Bamme
Adam Bamme (died 1397) was an English goldsmith and politician who served two non-consecutive terms as Lord Mayor of London in the 14th century.
Early career
Bamme's early origins are completely obscure, with nothing known about him prior to 1369. ...
in June 1397, Whittington was imposed on the City by the king as his replacement as
Lord Mayor of London
The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the City of London and the leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded precedence over all individuals except the sovereign and retains various traditional pow ...
. Within days Whittington had negotiated with the king a deal in which the City bought back its liberties for £10,000 (). He was formally elected as mayor by a grateful populace on 13 October 1397.
The
deposition of King
Richard II in 1399 did not affect Whittington and it is thought that he merely
acquiesced in the coup led by
Bolingbroke, later King
Henry IV, whom Whittington had long supplied with merchandise. He also lent the new king substantial amounts of money. He was elected mayor again in 1406 and 1419 and during 1407 served as mayor of
The Staple In European historiography, the term "staple" refers to the entire medieval system of trade and its taxation; its French equivalent is ''étape'', and its German equivalent ''stapeln'', words deriving from Late Latin ' with the same meaning, derived ...
at
Calais,
representing that town's merchants. In 1416 he became a
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
for the City of London. He was also influential with King
Henry V, Henry IV's son and successor, whom he lent large amounts of money and for whom he served on several
Royal Commissions of
oyer and terminer
In English law, oyer and terminer (; a partial translation of the Anglo-French ''oyer et terminer'', which literally means "to hear and to determine") was one of the commissions by which a judge of assize sat. Apart from its Law French name, the ...
. For example, Henry V employed him to supervise the expenditure to complete
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the Unite ...
. Despite being a moneylender himself he was sufficiently trusted and respected to sit as a judge in
usury
Usury () is the practice of making unethical or immoral monetary loans that unfairly enrich the lender. The term may be used in a moral sense—condemning taking advantage of others' misfortunes—or in a legal sense, where an interest rate is c ...
trials in 1421. Whittington also collected revenues and
import duties. A long dispute with the
Worshipful Company of Brewers
The Worshipful Company of Brewers is one of the livery companies of the City of London. London brewers are known to have organised as a group in the 13th century. Their first royal charter was granted by Henry VI in 1438. In 1643, Parliamen ...
over standard prices and measures of ale was won by Whittington.
Marriage
In 1402, at the age of 48, he married Alice FitzWaryn (d.1411), but she died without producing any
issue
Issue or issues may refer to:
Publishing
* ''Issue'' (company), a mobile publishing company
* ''Issue'' (magazine), a monthly Korean comics anthology magazine
* Issue (postal service), a stamp or a series of stamps released to the public
* '' ...
. She was one of the two daughters and joint heiresses of Sir Ivo FitzWaryn (1347–1414), of Caundle Haddon
in Dorset, and of
Wantage
Wantage () is a historic market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. Although within the boundaries of the historic county of Berkshire, it has been administered as part of the Vale of White Horse district of Oxfordshire since 1974. T ...
then in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) (whose
monumental brass survives in Wantage Church). As a
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
variously for the county seats of Dorset, Devon, and Somerset; a son of Sir William FitzWaryn,
Knight of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. It is the most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system, outranked in precedence only by the Victoria Cross and the George ...
, of
Whittington Castle in Shropshire, who was probably a son of
Fulk FitzWarin, 3rd Baron FitzWarin (c.1315–1349), also of Whittington Castle in Shropshire
and of
Wantage
Wantage () is a historic market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. Although within the boundaries of the historic county of Berkshire, it has been administered as part of the Vale of White Horse district of Oxfordshire since 1974. T ...
, who were of an ancient and powerful family of
Marcher Lords. A portrait of Richard Whittington circa 1590 by
Reginald Elstrack shows his paternal heraldic arms and also for his wife a differenced version of the usual arms of Baron FitzWarin with ''ermine'' in the 1st and 4th quarters in place of ''argent'', which variant was also used by Wiliam FitzWarin, a member of the Shropshire family, as depicted in the
Gelre Armorial, c.1370–1414.
The last in the male line was Fulk FitzWarin, 7th Baron FitzWarin (1406–1420), whose eventual successor (via a female line) was
William Bourchier, 9th Baron FitzWarin, second son of
William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu (1386–1420,) one of the wealthy noblemen to whom Richard Whittington lent money.
Benefactions
In his lifetime Whittington donated much of his profit to the city and left further endowments by his will. He financed:
* the rebuilding of the
Guildhall
* a ward for unmarried mothers at
St Thomas' Hospital
* drainage systems for areas around
Billingsgate
Billingsgate is one of the 25 Wards of the City of London. This small City Ward is situated on the north bank of the River Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge in the south-east of the Square Mile.
The modern Ward extends south to the ...
and
Cripplegate
Cripplegate was a gate in the London Wall which once enclosed the City of London.
The gate gave its name to the Cripplegate ward of the City which straddles the line of the former wall and gate, a line which continues to divide the ward into ...
* the rebuilding of his
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...
,
St Michael Paternoster Royal
St Michael Paternoster Royal is a church in the City of London. The original building, which was first recorded in the 13th century, was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The church was rebuilt under the aegis of Sir Christopher Wr ...
* a public toilet seating 128 called
Whittington's Longhouse in the parish of
St Martin Vintry
St Martin Vintry was a parish church in the Vintry ward of the City of London, England. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and never rebuilt.
History
The church stood at what is now the junction of Queen Street and Upper Thames ...
that was cleansed by the
River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...
at high tide
* most of
Greyfriars library
He also provided accommodation for his apprentices in his own house. He passed a law prohibiting the washing of animal skins by apprentices in the
River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...
in cold, wet weather because many young boys had died through
hypothermia
Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below in humans. Symptoms depend on the temperature. In mild hypothermia, there is shivering and mental confusion. In moderate hypothermia, shivering stops and confusion increases. In severe ...
or drowning in the strong river currents.
Death and burial
Whittington died in March 1423 and was buried in the church of
St Michael Paternoster Royal
St Michael Paternoster Royal is a church in the City of London. The original building, which was first recorded in the 13th century, was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The church was rebuilt under the aegis of Sir Christopher Wr ...
, to which he had donated large sums during his lifetime. The tomb is now lost, and the mummified cat found in the church tower in 1949 during a search for its location probably dates to the time of the
Wren restoration.
Bequests
Having died childless, Whittington left £7,000 in his will to charity, in those days a large sum, . Some of this was used to:
* rebuild
Newgate Prison and
Newgate and accommodation in it for the Sheriffs and Recorder which is the forerunner of that in the
Old Bailey
* build the first library in Guildhall (the ancestor of the modern
Guildhall Library
The Guildhall Library is a public reference library specialising in subjects relevant to London. It is administered by the Corporation of London, the government of the City of London, which is the historical heart of London, England.
The library ...
)
* repair
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust.
History
Early history
Barts was founded in 1123 by Rahere (die ...
* the creation of his 'college' i.e.
almshouse and hospital originally at St Michael's
* install some of the first public
drinking fountain
A drinking fountain, also called a water fountain or water bubbler, is a fountain designed to provide drinking water. It consists of a basin with either continuously running water or a tap. The drinker bends down to the stream of water and s ...
s
The
almshouses were relocated in 1966 to
Felbridge near
East Grinstead. Sixty elderly women and a few married couples currently live in them. The Whittington Charity also disburses money each year to the needy through the
Mercers' Company. The
Whittington hospital
Whittington Hospital is a district general and teaching hospital of UCL Medical School and Middlesex University School of Health and Social Sciences. Located in Upper Holloway, it is managed by Whittington Health NHS Trust, operating as Whittin ...
is now at
Archway in the
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington ( ) is a London borough in Inner London. Whilst the majority of the district is located in north London, the borough also includes a significant area to the south which forms part of central London. Islington has ...
.
Dick Whittington—stage character
The gifts left in Whittington's will made him well known and 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. In the 19th century this became popular as a
pantomime
Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking ...
called ''
Dick Whittington and His Cat'', very loosely based on Richard Whittington. There are several versions of the traditional story, which 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 from modern-day
Archway, 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
Whittington Hospital is a district general and teaching hospital of UCL Medical School and Middlesex University School of Health and Social Sciences. Located in Upper Holloway, it is managed by Whittington Health NHS Trust, operating as Whittin ...
, after this supposed episode. A traditional rhyme associated with this tale is:
On returning to London, Dick embarks on a series of adventures. In one version of the tale, he travels abroad on a ship, and wins many friends as a result of the rat-catching activities of his cat; in another he sends his cat and it is sold to make his fortune. Eventually he does become prosperous, marries his master's daughter Alice Fitzwarren (the name of the real Whittington's wife), and is made
Lord Mayor of London
The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the City of London and the leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded precedence over all individuals except the sovereign and retains various traditional pow ...
three times. The common belief that he served three rather than four times as Lord Mayor stems from the City's records 'Liber Albus' compiled at his request by the City Clerk John Carpenter wherein his name appears only three times as the remainder term of his deceased predecessor Adam Bamme and his own consequent term immediately afterwards appear as one entry for 1397.
As the son of gentry Whittington was never very poor and there is no evidence that he kept a cat. Whittington may have become associated with a thirteenth-century
Persian folktale about an orphan who gained a fortune through his cat, the tale was common throughout Europe at that time. Folklorists have suggested that the most popular legends about Whittington—that his fortunes were founded on the sale of his cat, who was sent on a
merchant vessel to a rat-beset Eastern emperor—originated in a popular 17th-century engraving by
Renold Elstracke in which his hand rested on a cat, but the picture only reflects a story already in wide circulation. Elstracke's oddly-shaped cat was in fact a later replacement by printseller
Peter Stent for what had been a
skull
The skull is a bone protective cavity for the brain. The skull is composed of four types of bone i.e., cranial bones, facial bones, ear ossicles and hyoid bone. However two parts are more prominent: the cranium and the mandible. In humans, th ...
in the original, with the change being made to conform to the story already in existence, to increase sales.
There was also known to be a painted portrait of Whittington shown with a cat, hanging at Mercer Hall, but it was reported that the painting had been trimmed down to smaller size, and the date "1572" that appears there was something painted after the cropping, which raises doubt as to the authenticity of the date, though
Malcolm who witnessed it ca. early 1800s felt the date should be taken in good faith.
[ James Peller Malcolm in ''Londinium Redivivum'', Vol. 4 (1807).] The print published in ''The New Wonderful Museum'' (vol. III, 1805, pictured above) is presumably a replica of this painting.
See also
*
Dick Whittington and His Cat
Notes
References
The History of Sir Richard Whittingtonby T. H. (1885), from
Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg (PG) is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, as well as to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks."
It was founded in 1971 by American writer Michael S. Hart and is the oldest digital libr ...
External links
Nine part radio play from BBC Radio Gloucestershire as collected by
Andrew Lang
Andrew Lang (31 March 1844 – 20 July 1912) was a Scottish poet, novelist, literary critic, and contributor to the field of anthropology. He is best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. The Andrew Lang lectures at the University o ...
in ''
The Blue Fairy Book'' (1889)
*
Dick Whittington and His Cat'. London: Jarrold, 1900
Dick Whittington and his Cat at The Great Cat as retold by Rohini Chowdhury
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whittington, Richard
1350s births
1423 deaths
Year of birth uncertain
Sheriffs of the City of London
15th-century lord mayors of London
English philanthropists
Merchants of the Staple
Members of the Parliament of England for the City of London
People from Forest of Dean District
Whittington, Dick
English MPs October 1416
Medieval legends
English folklore
14th-century English businesspeople
15th-century English businesspeople
14th-century lord mayors of London