At Tukios we love learning more about the fun in the industry of deathcare. In this blog, take a look at some interesting stories on famous last words from some prominent figures in history.
Famous last words range from clever and ironic to deeply sentimental or sad. Yet, with history’s flaws, who knows if they were really spoken? Either way, they offer intriguing insights into the moments before a final farewell.
1. John Adams
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were constantly back and forth from good friends to enemies during their presidential campaigns and political careers. John Adams' life ended on Independence Day at age 90 after a long period of illness. Adams' last words were “Thomas Jefferson survives.” However, the phrase is ironic due to the fact that Adams was unaware Jefferson had passed just a few hours earlier.
2. Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette is one of the most well known queens of France prior to the French Revolution and is attributed to the phrase “Let them eat cake” (even though there is no evidence she actually ever said that). Marie Antionette’s fall ultimately came when she was accused of treason. As she walked up to the guillotine, she uttered the apology “Pardon me, monsieur. I did not do it on purpose.” to her executioner for accidentally stepping on his foot.
3. Amelia Earhart
As America's most well known female pioneer in aviation, it’s not surprising that her last words “We are running on line 157-337 flying north and south." came from the last known radio transmission before her disappearance during her attempt to be the first woman to complete a world flight. It is speculated that her plane ran out of fuel and crashed in the ocean. Though no remnants of the crash have yet been confirmed to have been recovered.
4. Charles Dickens
We all know Charles Dickens for his beloved novel “A Christmas Carol”. During his life, Dickens had a couple brushes with death, including an instance where he was involved in a rail accident but survived untouched. What ultimately got him was a stroke. While suffering the stroke, Dickens said to Georgina Hogarth, his sister-in-law, “Yes. On the ground” after she had suggested he lie down. He was sent into an unconscious state where he stayed till the next day when he passed.
5. Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Da Vinci is a legend in history when it comes to his incredible inventions and popular artwork. Needless to say, it’s surprising that his last words were “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” For a man who was so brilliant and so looked up to, it is unexpected that he would feel unaccomplished. Makes you wonder what other projects he had up his sleeve that he wasn’t able to get around to.
6. Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe is known for her acting career as the iconic blond bombshell and lived the Hollywood dream life. With at least thirty-two movies and almost two dozen awards during her career, it seemed like she had it all. But behind the scenes, Marylin was struggling with high depressive episodes and ended up overdosing. Her last phone call was to John F. Kennedy’s brother-in-law Peter Lawford, where before hanging up she said "Say goodbye to Pat, say goodbye to the president and say goodbye to yourself, because you're a nice guy... I'll see... I'll see."
7. Albert Einstein
When thinking about scientists, it’s easy for Albert Einstein to come to mind, with his crazy hair of course. Einstein accomplished much during his lifetime and even won a Nobel Prize for his explanation of the photoelectric effect. Einstein suffered internal bleeding from a rupture in his torso. He was rushed to the hospital where he refused to have any kind of surgery saying "I want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share, it is time to go. I will do it elegantly.” After his death, part of his brain was removed (without the permission of the family) in hopes of finding an explanation for Einstein's intelligence.
8. Richard B. Mellon
Richard B. Mellon was a famous millionaire who specialized in banking alongside his brother Andrew Mellon. He was able to successfully help banks make it through the Great Depression, and was also a philanthropist who raised and donated over $15 million in funds primarily for church related organizations. He passed due to pneumonia. However, his last words are quite comedic, he and his brother Andrew had a long standing game of tag which had lasted over seven decades. Richard's last words were whispered into his beloved brother's ear, “Last tag”.
9. Pocahontas
Pocahontas was a Native American woman from the Powhatan tribe. During her life, she was taken from her home and brought to the Jamestown colonial settlement where she would live a very different life. She married a man named John Rolfe and together they had one son. It is speculated that she passed from some sort of illness. Her last words to her husband are simple yet sentimental: “All must die, but tis enough that the child liveth".
10. Sophie Blanchard
These famous last words offer a glimpse into the final moments of remarkable lives, leaving us with insights that continue to resonate through history. Let us know in the comments below if you can think of anyone else who should have made it on the list!
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