Six centuries ago, the first library at Guildhall was established through a bequest from Richard Whittington, a former Lord Mayor of the City of London, who was renowned as a shrewd

medieval merchant, politician, and philanthropist.

The intriguing question of whether Whittington also owned a cat will be explored in the exhibition, "Whittington: The Man, The Myth, and The Cat," which opens on 7 October at the City of London Corporation's public reference library.

This free exhibition will showcase chapbooks (small printed booklets popular in early modern Europe), children’s literature, and pantomime-related works—many of which were donated to the library by book collector Ellery Yale Wood in 2016.

"Whittington: The Man, The Myth, and The Cat" delves into Whittington’s life and the legends that surround him, investigating the real story behind the famous rags-to-riches narrative of an orphan who not only transformed his own fortunes but also shaped the City of London.

Exhibition visitors will learn how Whittington lent money to kings Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry V nearly 60 times and funded public works such as lavatories at St Martin Vintry, a refuge for unmarried mothers at St Thomas’ Hospital, the reconstruction of Newgate Prison, and the creation of Guildhall’s first library.

The exhibition also unpacks how the cat myth emerged in the 17th century. One theory suggests the story stems from a linguistic misunderstanding—merchant ships called "cattes" or the French word "achat," meaning trade, may have been confused with an actual feline.

Whittington’s legacy as Lord Mayor is well-known, having served in 1397, and later elected again in 1406 and 1419. On 5 September 1421, as a widower without children, he drew up his will, leaving his entire fortune of £7,500 (equivalent to £7.5 million today) to charitable causes. He passed away on 23 or 24 March 1423.

Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, Munsur Ali, said:

“Most of us have heard of Dick Whittington and enjoyed watching the pantomime but, beyond remembering that Richard Whittington was Lord Mayor three times and mentioning a cat, few people will know a great deal about him.

“As it approaches its 600th anniversary, this exhibition at Guildhall Library will feel like a love letter to the remarkable man who was responsible for its creation, and whose generosity benefitted Londoners during his lifetime and continues to this day via charitable causes.”

The City of London Corporation, a major supporter of heritage and culture in the UK, invests over £130 million annually in institutions like the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and Guildhall Library. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Museum.

As part of its growth strategy, the City of London Corporation’s "Destination City" aims to establish the Square Mile as a premier global destination for business, leisure, residents, and visitors, with a seven-day-a-week schedule of events and activities. Photo by Alex Hogg and Co, after Guillaume Philippe Benoist, Wikimedia commons.