Treasury Bill Explained
Rufus of England, popularly nicknamed Treasury Bill, was a cat who served as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom under prime minister Ramsay MacDonald.[1] [2]
Treasury Bill was described as a ginger cat and a "a renowned ratcatcher".[3] His nickname was created among Cabinet members and house staff.[4]
Whilst technically the first cat to serve in this role, he was never officially given the title and only served for less than a year, meaning his successor − Peter − is often considered the first chief mouser.[5]
Treasury Bill served during MacDonald's first term as prime minister in 1924 and returned in 1929 when MacDonald became prime minister for the second time. According to the Sunday Mail, he was apparently still on duty in 1930.[6]
Notes and References
- Web site: Larry the cat joins David Cameron in Downing Street . BBC.com . 6 July 2019 . 15 February 2011 . During the 1920s, Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald's cat - a renowned rat-catcher - had the rather regal title of Rufus of England, but was nicknamed "Treasury Bill". . 8 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221108231714/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-12460596 . live .
- News: 'Miaow, Prime Minister': the bureaucats of Downing Street . Campbell . Mel . 19 May 2010 . . 25 January 2011 . 31 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201031170548/https://www.crikey.com.au/2010/05/19/miaow-prime-minister-the-bureaucats-of-downing-street/ . live .
- Web site: The history of Downing Street pets . PetAir UK . 11 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227110638/https://www.petairuk.com/blog/the-history-of-downing-street-pets/ . 27 February 2024 . In 1924, Prime Minister Ramsay McDonald had a ginger cat named Rufus of England who sometimes went by the nickname Treasury Bill..
- Web site: Meet Larry, Chief Mouser of the UK and perhaps the most powerful feline in the world . The New Zealand Herald . 11 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230702215947/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/meet-larry-chief-mouser-of-the-uk-and-perhaps-the-most-powerful-feline-in-the-world/NBSONJUMXHVL75RJFI3N7KP5EI/ . 2 July 2023 . 27 October 2019.
- News: A softer side of government: How Larry the cat became a purr-fect political companion on Downing Street - CBC News. en-US. CBC. 2021-03-22.
- Web site: The Cat that Looked at a Chancellor . . . 6 July 2019 . 5 July 1930 . 8 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221108045627/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63654594/5310743 . live .
