Wilberforce (cat)
Encyclopedia
Wilberforce was a cat who lived at 10 Downing Street
between 1973 and 1987 and served under four British Prime Ministers: Edward Heath
, Harold Wilson
, Jim Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher
. His chief function was to catch mice, in which role he was the successor to Petra. In life he had been referred to as "the best mouser in Britain" as fit his role.
According to Bernard Ingham, the former press secretary to Margaret Thatcher, Wilberforce was a normal cat for whom Thatcher once bought "a tin of sardines in a Moscow supermarket". On the BBC coverage of the 1983 general election
, presenter Esther Rantzen
was allowed to hold Wilberforce and introduce him to viewers.
He retired on 3 April 1987, and was succeeded by Humphrey
who was born in 1988, the year Wilberforce died.
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
between 1973 and 1987 and served under four British Prime Ministers: Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
, Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
, Jim Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. His chief function was to catch mice, in which role he was the successor to Petra. In life he had been referred to as "the best mouser in Britain" as fit his role.
According to Bernard Ingham, the former press secretary to Margaret Thatcher, Wilberforce was a normal cat for whom Thatcher once bought "a tin of sardines in a Moscow supermarket". On the BBC coverage of the 1983 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
, presenter Esther Rantzen
Esther Rantzen
Esther Louise Rantzen CBE is an English journalist and television presenter who is best known for presenting the BBC television series That's Life!, and for her work in various charitable causes. She is founder of the child protection charity ChildLine, and also advocates the work of the Burma...
was allowed to hold Wilberforce and introduce him to viewers.
He retired on 3 April 1987, and was succeeded by Humphrey
Humphrey (cat)
Humphrey was a cat employed as the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, from October 1989 to 13 November 1997...
who was born in 1988, the year Wilberforce died.