“Ben, make sure you play ‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’ in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty.”
King was on the balcony of his motel apartment when he was fatally shot by sniper James Earl Ray. The civil rights activist was rushed to St Joseph’s hospital for emergency surgery but died from his injuries.
The last words of the 39 year old social activist and Baptist minister were spoken to a musician Ben Branch, who was going to play that night at a meeting King was due to attend.
“Hold it! Hold it! Don’t get excited. Let’s cool it, brothers.”
According to some reports, these were the final words of Malcolm X who was assassinated by three gunmen in Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom. The 39 year old human rights activist and revolutionary was shot 21 times and taken to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
“Thomas Jefferson survives.”
The American President and founding father died of a heart attack at 90 years of age on the 4th of July, the 50th anniversary of the declaration of independence. He was unaware that longtime friend and rival Thomas Jefferson had died earlier the same day.
“No, they sure can’t”
The former President’s final words after Nellie Connally asked him “Mr. President, they can’t make you believe now that there are not some in Dallas who love and appreciate you, can they?” JFK was assassinated with a gunshot to the head, aged 46.
“I have a terrific headache.”
Former American President and war leader during World War 2, died of a stroke while sitting for a portrait at his personal retreat the Little White House, in Warm Springs Georgia. He was aged 63.
“Is it the fourth?”
American Founding Father died at the age of 83 on the 4th of July, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
“Taking a leap into the dark. O mystery!”
The American founding father and political activist died in Greenwich Village, New York City, aged 72.
“I know you are here to kill me. Shoot, coward, you are only going to kill a man.”
Ernesto Guevara, statesman and Marxist revolutionary, speaking to his captors before being executed.
“I’m so bored with it all.”
British statesman and war leader, these were the final words to his son-in-law. After having a stroke and then slipping into a coma, Winston Churchill died nine days later at his home in London. aged 90.
“I’m finished. I don’t even trust myself.”
The last words of the former ruler of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin, who died at his home from cerebral haemorrhage, which his daughter Svetlana described as ‘a difficult and terrible death.’
