Richard Whittington MP (abt. 1354 - 1423)

Born about 1354 in Pauntley, Gloucestershire, England

Ancestors

Died Mar 1423 at about age 69 in London, England [uncertain]

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Biography

He was four times Lord Mayor of London, a member of parliament and a sheriff of London.

Born about 1354 probably at Pauntley in Gloucestershire, Richard Whittington was the third son of Sir William Whittington of Pauntley in Gloucestershire and his wife, Joan Maunsell. His father died in 1358 when the boys were still very young. Contrary to legend his family was not impoverished but as a third son he had to make his own way in the world. By 1379 he had settled in London turning to trade to make his fortune. As a mercer he handled rich stuffs much in demand by the nobility, numbering among his clients Robert de Vere, Hugh, earl of Stafford, John of Gaunt and his son Henry of Bolingbroke and Thomas of Woodstock as well as the king, Richard II.^[1]

The sudden death of mayor of London, Adam Bamme, in 1397 ^[2] resulted in the arbitrary selection by the King of Richard to finish the term as mayor. The following year he was elected to the office and was to serve two more terms. This situation has led to the debate as to whether he was "Lord Mayor of London" three times as in the legend or four.

Richard's business does not appear to have suffered from the deposition of the King in October 1399. Bolingbroke as King Henry IV continued to deal with him but the nature of Richard's business was changing. By this time he was a rich man and took to making loans to the nobility rather than investing in country estates. At the time usury, the lending of money at interest, was prohibited and it was often difficult to get the money returned but such loans were made in the hope of receiving privileges especially in the matter of obtaining licenses to trade. ^[3]Richard continued to do well.

In 1402 aged 48 he married Alice FitzWarin, daughter of Sir Ivo FitzWarin (or Fitzwarren) of Wantage in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire), and his wife, Maud Argentine. Alice died childless in 1411 and Richard did not marry again. He was clearly on very good terms with his father-in-law who, when he wrote his will in 1412, made Richard his executor. When Sir Ivo died in 1414 he left Richard "a silver gilt piece, ywrite around, with a cover of the same make, and a pair of paternosters of pure gold, enamelled with clear red, with gawds of pure gold enamelled with white in the form of a head of Saint John the Baptist." Richard was returned to Parliament as member for the City of London in October 1416 but made no further attempt to be chosen as an MP.^[4]

Richard died early in 1423 and was buried beside his wife in the church of St Michael Paternoster Royal. He died an enormously wealthy man and, having no children, left all that he had to charity. So vast was his fortune that the benefits of his charity are still enjoyed by people living in the 21st century. ^[5][6]

In 1641 Thomas Heywood published "The famous and remarkable history of Sir Richard Whittington three times Lord Major of London, who lived in the time of King Henry the Fift, in the year 1419 : with all the remarkable passages and things of note which hapned [sic] in his time, with his life and death / written by T.H" ^[7] Dick Whittington became a subject of legend and as such is one of the very few real people featured in British Pantomime. ^[8]

A transcription of his will and the ordinances for his almshouse can be viewed here. It is in the ordinances that Richard and Alice's parents are named.

That is, first and foremost for the souls of Richard and Alice Whittington, the founders. Also for the souls of Sir William Whittington knight and Lady Joan his wife, and the souls of Sir Ivo FitzWaren and Lady Maud his wife, the parents of Richard Whittington and his wife Alice.

Sources

1. ↑ History of Parliament online: WHITTINGTON, Richard (d.1423), of London
2. ↑ History of Parliament online: BAMME, Adam (d.1397), of London
3. ↑ https://lordmayorsshow.london/history/dick-whittington
4. ↑ History of Parliament online: WHITTINGTON, Richard (d.1423), of London
5. ↑ The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington
6. ↑ Dick Whittington the True Story
7. ↑ https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=eebo;idno=A43591.0001.001
8. ↑ Wikipedia: Pantomime

See also

• Wikipedia:Richard_Whittington
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Whittington, Richard (Dick) (c. 1350–1423)
• Venn Cambridge alumni: Richard whittington, benefactor
• British History online: Pauntley, Gloucestershire Doesn't mention Richard but gives the family background
• The Family Magazine (Redfield & Lindsay, 1834-5) Vol. 2, Page 150-1