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...

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Guildhall - Whittington statue

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

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Whittington's church

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

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Whittington's house

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

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Whittington statue - Archway - lost

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

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Show all 8

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