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Independence Day: Famous Last Words On July 4.

In the course of the establishment of the experiment in liberty we call America, there were circumstances that-- looking back-- were almost too perfect to be anything but divinely inspired.

One moment, as fate would have it, took place five decades after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and more than three decades after the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It was the strange circumstance of rival Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson and John Adams passing away on the very same day.

They both died on July 4, 1826. Independence Day. Precisely half a century after the Declaration of Independence was written.

Their last words:

First, Jefferson--

"Is it the Fourth?"

-Thomas Jefferson, evening of July 3, 1826; Jefferson died the following morning, July 4, 1826.

And John Adams--

"Thomas Jefferson still lives."

-John Adams, upon waking momentarily on the afternoon of July 4, 1826 [Jefferson had already died].

Source: The Founders' Almanac

Read more on this amazing coincidence here.

Happy Birthday America!

Posted by Will Franklin · 4 July 2007 03:43 PM

Comments

Posted by: zsa zsa at July 4, 2007 08:55 PM