LHK: Dick Whittington

Richard Whittington - City Patron

Dick Whittington lived in the late 14th & early 15th century.
He was a younger son of a rich landowner from Gloucestershire. He came to London as a merchant.
There is a famous story about how his cat made him rich.
Dick traded in wool & silk in Britain & Europe. He became tremendously wealthy selling to nobles and Royalty.
He leant money to three kings. Legend says that he tore up Henry V's IOUs for £30,000 at a banquet at the Guildhall. So he didn't have to repay him. That would be £14m today! Henry had used the money for his French Wars.
Dick was elected Lord Mayor of London four times. He was also Sheriff of London and a Member of Parliament.
He did lots of good things for London. He:
- Rebuilt the Guildhall.
- Built a new ward at St. Thomas' Hospital.
- Built a library at the Greyfrairs' Church.
- Rebuilt the church of St. Michael Paternoster.
- Installed new drainage at Cripplegate & Billingsgate.
- Built a rare public toilet flushed by the Thames at high tide.
He married a lady from Wantage in Berkshire, but they had no children. So when he died in 1423, he left lots of money for more good causes:
- Rebuilding Newgate & the prison.
- Building a library at the Guildhall.
- Building Whittington College & an almshouse for old poor people at St. Michael Paternoster.
- Repairing St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
- Setting up public drinking fountains.