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Dick Whittington was an English merchant and lord mayor of London who became a well-known figure in legend and traditional pantomime. Whittington, who was the son of a knight of Gloucestershire, opened a mercer’s shop in London that supplied velvets and damasks to such notables as Henry Bolingbroke.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Dick Whittington and His Cat is the English folklore surrounding the real-life Richard Whittington (c. 1354–1423), wealthy merchant and later Lord Mayor of London. [1] 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.
Richard Whittington (c. 1354 – March 1423) 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.
Richard Wittington’s actual story begins in the 1350s, born into a wealthy titled family in Gloucestershire. His father was Sir William Whittington who served as a Member of Parliament, and his mother was Joan Maunsell who was the daughter of an MP.
Sep 25, 2023 · Over the past 200 years, Dick Whittington has become one of Britain’s best-loved pantomime heroes. Yet, as Michael McCarthy tells Jon Bauckham, the real-life story that inspired Dick’s rags to riches tale is even more remarkable than the fiction.
Sep 17, 2023 · The rags to riches story of the Gloucestershire-born Dick (Richard) Whittington making his fortune in London has entertained people for centuries, particularly at Christmastime in Britain when his tale is turned into pantomimes performed in countless theatres.
Nov 11, 2023 · Learn about the real Dick Whittington, a medieval London Mayor who became famous for his wealth, charity and political influence. Discover how his story was transformed into a popular pantomime with a cat and a journey to Barbary.
