Most children know the story of Dick Whittington and his cat. For those that do not, it is a famous English pantomime about a young destitute boy who goes to London to seek his fortune; believing the streets to be paved with gold.

However on arriving he finds out the truth. It is cold, hard and not favourable to poor boys with no money. He turned back, but as he did heard the words;

‘Turn again Whittington once Mayor of London,
Turn again Whittington, thrice Mayor of London’

So he regained heart and returned.
Found on a door step of a rich mans house after a cold night, Dick is apprenticed the owner, a cloth seller. One night, the owner, who regularly shipped to the orient was again sailing and his daughter Alice, who had a fondness for Dick asked what he had to go on to the ship and possibly make his fortune. Having only a cat, dick gave that.

His fortune was made; the Orient was overrun with mice and gave huge riches for the cat. He was very wealthy and married the daughter of his former boss Alice and did become Mayor three times.

However what was he really like? Was Dick Whittington even real? The answer is yes. But he was not born poor. He was born around 1350 to a knight, but as the younger son, did not inherit his father’s estate. Instead he was sent to London to be apprenticed. He was apprenticed to a Mercer or cloth seller and did very well, even selling cloth to the King. Whittington also became a money lender, an extremely successful one, lending various kings large sums of money. Whittington, though a lender was actually much respected and greatly trusted.

This probably has to do with his generosity. He gave much money to charity, and set up a ward for poor unmarried mothers, as well as starting Almshouses for the poor. There are also many other things he did, pouring his money into London and improving it greatly for its citizens. Among other things; Whittington also vastly improved the sanitary situation in London, apparently building a 64 seat toilet for males and females! In fact so successful was his charity that 600 years later it still gives to those in need.

He was a very successful politician, surviving the reign of several kings (Richard II, Henry VI, Henry V, Henry VI) of which he supported at least the first four with vast amounts of loan money. He was actually voted as mayor four times, once put in place by Richard II, but because of his kindness and trustworthiness he was voted in also thrice more by the Londoners themselves. (1397, (Richards Appointment) 1398, 1406 and 1419) He also became an MP in 1416. He was an Alderman of London until he died.

He did marry this former Masters daughter, actually apparently called Alice, although she died before he did in 1411. Dick Whittington died in 1423, having no children left £7000 to charity, which in today’s currency is about £3million.
So the real Dick Whittington was as kind and generous as his pantomime, which is well worth seeing, if you ever have the chance.