Person    | Male  Born 1350  Died 23/3/1423

Dick Whittington

Born in Pauntley, Gloucestershire, second son of a wealthy man. Thrice Lord Mayor of London: 1397, 1406 and 1420 (actually four times but two were consecutive). Three times Master of the Mercers' Company. The Museum of London tells his story well but we first learnt the story from the Ladybird book (see the picture) and many British children learn it from Christmas pantomimes.

A fact not mentioned there we learnt from Londonist: the hellish Newgate Prison was known as 'the Whit' because it "was rebuilt in the early 15th century at the bequest of Mayor Dick Whittington".

Another fact that the Ladybird book did not mention, but was brought to our attention by Camden History Society, is that Whittington also bequeathed funds for a public toilet, the first split by gender, with 64 seats for each. On Cheapside, its ditch was flushed by the Thames tide twice daily - so nice and hygienic then.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Dick Whittington

Commemorated ati

Dick Whittington and his cat - Highgate

British History Online (1878) says that in about 1795 "the original stone, be...

Read More

Guildhall - Whittington statue

Dick stands in front of a milestone showing he is in Highgate (3 miles from L...

Read More

Whittington's church

Richard Whittington, four times Mayor of London, founded and was buried in th...

Read More

Whittington's house

The house of Richard Whittington Mayor of London stood on this site 1423. Co...

Read More

Whittington statue - Archway - lost

For other almshouse statues that have moved see the Fishmongers James Hulbert...

Read More

Show all 8

Other Subjects

Nancy Mitford

Nancy Mitford

Born 1 Graham Street (now Terrace) SW1 into the British aristocracy, the eldest of 7 siblings: Pamela, Thomas, Diana, Unity, Jessica, Deborah. Popularised U and non-U linguistic usage. Novels inclu...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, France

1 memorial
Wilkie Collins

Wilkie Collins

Writer of thriller novels such as The Woman in White, The Moonstone. Born 11 New Cavendish Street. A great friend of Charles Dickens, to the extent that they grew beards together. Died at home in 8...

Person, Literature

2 memorials
James Joyce

James Joyce

Writer. Born James Augustine Aloysius Joyce in Dublin. Considered to be one of the most influential authors of the 20th century, his works include 'The Dubliners', 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Yo...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, Ireland, Switzerland

1 memorial
Sir Alan Herbert

Sir Alan Herbert

Author and politician. Born Alan Patrick Herbert at Ashtead Lodge, Ashtead, Leatherhead. He was called to the bar, but never practised. Joined Punch magazine as a writer in 1924 and went on to writ...

Person, Literature, Music / songs, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Francis Bret Harte

Francis Bret Harte

American writer, best know for his accounts of pioneering life in California. Born New York. Came to London in 1885 via Germany and Glasgow. Buried at Frimley, Surrey. Some sources, contradicti...

Person, Literature, Poetry, USA

1 memorial