"Thomas Jefferson survives."
These supposed dying words, spoken on July 4th, 1826 – the 50th anniversary of American Independence – are ironic, because, in fact, Thomas Jefferson died that very same day, several hours before. Both Jefferson and John Adams played integral roles in the American Revolution, including the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. The two were friends, had a falling out due to politics, and began corresponding again in their old age.
"We will visit the Holy Land and see those places hallowed by the footsteps of the Savior…there is no place I so much desire to see as Jerusalem."
Abraham Lincoln, the president who helped free the slaves and bring our country back together, was a religious man like many of the U.S. presidents. Easily one of the most stressful periods to be president in, Lincoln was not loved by all, and that's why John Wilkes Booth shot him at Ford's theater on April 11, 1865. These words allegedly spoken by Lincoln are both haunting and reassuring, as Lincoln was off to a "better place" - as they say.
"A dying man can do nothing easily."
Benjamin Franklin was one of America's greatest thinkers. He was a philosopher, inventor, politician, diplomat, scientist, and writer among many other things. Like Jefferson and Adams, he played a huge role in the achievement of American Independence. Benjamin Franklin's final words were one last tidbit of philosophy before dying in his Philadelphia home on April 17, 1790.
"Pardon me, sir, I didn't mean to."
Marie Antionette is often tied to her alleged, infamous quote, "Let them eat cake," but whether or not she said that – no one can really say for sure, because it was so long ago. That being said, these final words on record, were allegedly spoken to the executioner after stepping on his foot, on her way to the guillotine, which makes her sound not as uncaring as the famous "cake" quote would have you believe.
"More weight!"
The Salem witch trial claimed many lives in Salem, Massachusetts. The mass hysteria that took over the town resulted in more than 200 people being accused of witchcraft, with 30 being found guilty, and 19 people hanged. Giles Corey, on the other hand, was pressed to his demise with stones in an effort to get him to plead guilty of witchcraft. Although the townspeople hated him, Corey never cared what they thought even until his last breath. Sticking it to the man, like a boss, Giles dared them to put on more weight - and they did. He died on September 19, 1692 at the age of 81.
"All must die, but tis enough that the child liveth."
Pocahontas is a legend of history and myth. While most historians believe the romance between Pocahontas and John Smith to be fictitious, Pocahontas's marriage to John Rolfe is all true. After being captured by Jamestown settlers, she lived with them until she married Rolfe, who took her to England as an ambassador. She was treated well in England but didn't survive long after her trip. In March 1617, on the way back to Virginia, having become ill, Pocahontas said her final words to her husband.
"I have a terrific pain in the back of my head."
FDR was the only president to have been elected three times. Leading America out of the Great Depression and into World War II, FDR did not have an easy task as president but he did it all while suffering from polio – a disease he contracted in 1921, at the age of 39. The disease took away the use of his legs and his health would further decline. By March 1945, he was diagnosed with coronary artery disease. On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt complained of a headache, stiffness in his neck, and a chill. Later that day, his head drooped forward, Roosevelt said his final words before dying of a stroke.
“Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit.”
In popular culture, introduced by Shakespeare in his play Julius Caeser, the final words of Julius Caesar are "Et tu, Brute?" But real life isn't always so dramatic. His last words in public were a bit sensational, however: “Behold, I found Rome of clay, and leave her to you of marble.” Julius Caesar died on March 15 44 BC.
"Pity, pity—too late!"
Beethoven is one of history's greatest composers. He learned to play music at a young age, having been taught by his father. However, after having lost his hearing in 1798 because a quarrel with a singer, the talented composer gradually lost his ability to play music. Instead, he could only write and compose it. In his final days, Beethoven's health was in decline, but even the aid of multiple doctors could not save him. Although many believe Beethoven's final words to be "Applaud, my friends, the comedy is over," the real words above are what were actually recorded.
"I'm Bored with it all."
Honestly, who isn't? But seriously, Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Britain that helped lead the country through World War II, said these words in his last hours. By the late '50s, Churchill's physical and mental health was rapidly deteriorating. He suffered a series of strokes, thereafter, and died on Jan. 24, 1965.
"France, the army, head of army, Josephine."
After his failed efforts to dominate all of Europe, Napoleon was exiled in Elba. During this time, he was given sovereignty over the island and was allowed to keep his title as "Emperor." While in exile, he learned that his wife Josephine had died. Heartbroken, he locked himself in his room, and wouldn't come out for two days. He eventually escaped the island, returned to France, and was exiled again – where he lived the rest of his days. His health deteriorating, he muttered his final words on May 5, 1821.
"I am about to – or I am going to – die: either expression is correct."
Dominique Bouhours was a French Jesuit priest and grammatist, so it's only appropriate that these were his parting words. Dominique Bouhours was also integral to French critical vocabulary until Romanticism came about. He died on May 27, 1702.
"I go to prepare a place for you."
Harriet Tubman dedicated much of her life in helping black Americans escape slavery. An escaped slave herself, she devised the underground railroad, which was a series of safe houses and routes that could take slaves into the North where they would be free. Freeing thousands of slaves, indeed Harriet Tubman made a place for many African Americans. Her final words echo that sentiment.
"You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can get with a kind word alone.”
You could say a lot of negative things about the notorious Al Capone, but you can't say he didn't play by his own rules. In the business of extortion, what more appropriate words to hear from the man in his final hours. Sure a kind word can go far, but in the end, the man with the gun makes all the rules.
"Last words are for fools who haven't said enough."
Karl Marx, the German philosopher and father of socialism changed the world with his ideas, helping to shape it for the next two hundred years. A man with plenty to say himself, whether you believe in his philosophies or not, he was a thinker. His last words are his final tidbit of philosophy. Karl Marx died on March 14, 1883.
"I am not the least afraid of death—Remember what a good wife you have been to me—Tell all my children to remember how good they have been to me."
Charles Darwin was another great mind. As the father of evolution, he changed the world with his contributions to evolution. His ideas are almost universally accepted by the scientific community and have transformed how we see the world. Having lived a fulfilling life, Darwin died with his family by his side. In 1882, he was diagnosed with angina pectoris and died on April 19th that same year. He told his wife these final words, undoubtedly, to comfort and reassure her.
"It is very beautiful out there."
Thomas Edison is one of the most influential inventors of the 19th century. And his name is so famous and attached to such a famous invention, we won't even get into the stuff he invented. You know how he lived, but here's how he died. Suffering from diabetes, he died of complications of the disease on October 18, 1931. He said his last words, and apparently, his last breath has been saved in a test tube, which is at the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit.
“I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have."
Leonardo Da Vinci was a man of many talents. He was an inventor, artist, scientist, and writer. In addition to his famous works of art, he conceptualized designs for equipment used today such as a parachute, helicopter, and tank. He accomplished so much, and his legacy lives on to this day, and yet clearly a perfectionist because he could not see what he accomplished. He died on May 2, 1519.
"Youth, I forgive thee. Loose his chains and give him 100 shillings."
King Richard I, aka Richard the Lionheart, was the King of England after revolting against the previous king, Henry II. Richard I took his army to Jerusalem during the Third Crusade and fought Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria. After years of battle, Richard I was wounded on March 26, 1199, with a wound to the shoulder by a crossbow. He did not seek vengeance against the bowman. Instead, he let him free and sent him away with 100 shillings.
“I know you've come to kill me. Shoot, you are only going to kill a man.”
Che Guevara has become something of a pop culture icon. The Cuban revolutionary has become a countercultural icon, printed on bumper stickers, t-shirts and other merchandise. To those in line with Marxist theory, he is a hero. And considering, people still know his name, indeed his final words to his executioners were correct. Che Guevara was shot and killed by Bolivian soldiers on October 9, 1967, but his legacy lives on.
"It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go."
George Washington, the first President of the United States, passed away on December 14, 1799, at his Mount Vernon estate in Virginia. His death followed a brief illness that began with a severe throat infection. Despite receiving medical attention, Washington's condition deteriorated rapidly.
"Oh, now comes the doctors with their red tape!"
Queen Victoria died on January 22, 1901, at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Her death marked the end of the Victorian Era, a period of significant industrial, cultural, political, and military changes in the United Kingdom. She had reigned for 63 years, becoming the longest-serving British monarch at that time. Her passing was a pivotal moment in British history, leading to the ascension of her son, Edward VII.
"E pur si muove." ("And yet it moves.")
Galileo Galilei, the renowned Italian astronomer and physicist, died on January 8, 1642, in Arcetri, near Florence. His death occurred while he was under house arrest imposed by the Roman Catholic Church for his support of heliocentrism.
"I foresee a great funeral contest over me."
Alexander the Great died on June 10 or 11, 323 BC, in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon. His death followed a sudden illness, with symptoms suggesting fever and severe abdominal pain. Despite various theories, the exact cause remains uncertain. At age 32, his passing left his vast empire without a clear successor, leading to its fragmentation.
"I must go in, for the fog is rising."
Emily Dickinson, the American poet, died on May 15, 1886, at her family's home in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her health had deteriorated over several years due to Bright's disease, a chronic nephritis condition. During her lifetime, only a few of her nearly 1,800 poems were published. After her death, her extensive body of work was discovered and published, establishing her reputation as one of America's most significant poets.
"Now, now, my good man, this is no time for making enemies."
Voltaire, the French Enlightenment writer and philosopher, died on May 30, 1778, in Paris. His death followed a period of illness that began after his return to the city earlier that year.
"I always talk better lying down."
James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, died on June 28, 1836, at his Montpelier estate in Virginia. His health had been declining due to rheumatism and other ailments. His death marked the passing of one of the last major figures of the American Revolutionary era.
"At fifty, everyone has the face he deserves."
George Orwell, the British author known for "1984" and "Animal Farm," died on January 21, 1950, in London. He succumbed to complications from tuberculosis, a disease he had battled for years. His death came shortly after the publication of his most famous works, cementing his legacy as a significant 20th-century writer.
"I feel the daisies growing over me."
John Keats, the English Romantic poet, died on February 23, 1821, in Rome at the age of 25. He succumbed to tuberculosis, which had afflicted him for several years. Despite his brief life, Keats produced a significant body of work that posthumously earned him recognition as one of the greatest English poets.
"I hope to meet you all in Heaven, both white and black."
Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, died on June 8, 1845, at his Hermitage plantation in Tennessee. He had been suffering from chronic health issues, including tuberculosis and heart problems. Known for his role in shaping the modern Democratic Party and his controversial policies, Jackson's presidency left a lasting impact on American politics.
"Is it not meningitis?"
Louisa May Alcott, the American author best known for "Little Women," died on March 6, 1888, in Boston. Her death was attributed to a stroke, following years of health issues likely related to mercury poisoning from a treatment for typhoid fever. Her final words reflected her awareness of her serious condition.
"Ben, make sure you play 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord' in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty."
Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader, was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. King's leadership in the Civil Rights Movement advanced social justice and equality in the United States. His final words were spoken to musician Ben Branch.
"I'm going to the bathroom to read."
Elvis Presley, the iconic American singer and actor, died on August 16, 1977, at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee. His death was caused by a heart attack, likely linked to his long-term substance abuse. His last known words were spoken to his fiancée, Ginger Alden, hours before he was discovered unresponsive.
"I shall not be triumphed over."
Cleopatra, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, died on August 12, 30 BCE. According to historical accounts, she died possibly by allowing an asp to bite her, following the defeat of her forces by Octavian.
"Hold the cross high so I may see it through the flames!"
Joan of Arc, the French heroine and saint, was executed on May 30, 1431, in Rouen. She was burned at the stake after being convicted of heresy by an English-backed church court. Joan had claimed divine guidance in leading French forces during the Hundred Years' War.
