Whittington, Dick

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Whittington, Dick ( Richard) (1358–1423) English merchant, Lord Mayor of London on several occasions between 1397 and 1420. The son of a knight, he became wealthy dealing in fine cloths. He made loans to Henry IV and Henry V, and endowed many charitable institutions. He is, however, best known as the subject of a legend about a poor boy and his cat, who come to London to make their fortune.

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