Whittington, Richard

Richard (1359-1423), a London merchant and magistrate. He made a fortune selling cloth. He was a man of liberality, character, influence, and popularity. He held the offices of alderman and sheriff, the latter a position corresponding to our municipal judge. He was elected mayor at three separate elections. In 1422, so run the records, "Whityntone, the late mayor," was instrumental in breaking up an ale trust. A number of London brewers were fined $100 each for raising the price of malt and selling dear ale. There is a popular tradition current in juvenile literature, but without historical foundation, that Dick Whittington made a start in life by sending a cat to Barbary. It arrived in the nick of time and sold for a large sum. Another tale runs to the effect that he was about to leave London in despair when he heard Bow Bells ring out:

Some investigator has declared that Dick Whittington's cat should be spelled achat, the latter term being a current name for bargain or profit. If this be the true origin of the "cat" it has reference simply to Whittington's achat or profit in the lucrative but non-poetical coal trade with Newcastle. In other words he made money or achat selling coal to the Londoners.