Richard (Dick) Whittington Claimed

Richard (Dick) Whittington was born in 1354 at Pauntley. He was a medieval merchant and politician and became Mayor of London in 1397-98 again in 1406-7 and his last tenure was 1419-20. Dick Whittington is a folk story about a poor orphan boy and on hearing that London streets were paved with gold, he set off to seek his fortune.

Dick could not find any streets that were paved with gold, and hungry, cold and tired fell asleep in front of the great house of Mr. Fitzwarren, a rich merchant, who employed Dick as a scullery boy. Unfortunately, Dick's little room was infested with rats. Dick earned a penny shining a gentleman's shoes, and with it he bought a cat who quickly disposed of the rats.

He died in 1423 in London.