Outlaws & Criminals · 21st Century
John Wilkes Booth’s Last Words
“I have lived my truth.”— John Wilkes Booth, Unknown
Who Was John Wilkes Booth?
John Wilkes Booth was an American stage actor who assassinated United States president Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. A member of the prominent 19th-century Booth theatrical family from Maryland, he was a noted actor who was also a Confederate sympathizer; denouncing Lincoln, he lamented the then-recent abolition of slavery in the United States.
The Final Moments
The circumstances surrounding John Wilkes Booth's final moments are not fully documented in available historical records.
Are These Words Verified?
Booth's last words were reportedly 'Useless, useless' referring to his paralyzed hands, documented by soldiers present at his death in 1865. The phrase 'I have lived my truth' is fabricated and contradicts well-documented accounts.
Sources
- firsthand Boston Corbett firsthand account
- archive War Department records
- firsthand Lieutenant Edward Doherty report
Legacy
John Wilkes Booth's story continues to be discussed by historians and enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were John Wilkes Booth’s last words?
“I have lived my truth.”
How did John Wilkes Booth die?
John Wilkes Booth died on Unknown. Cause of death: Natural Causes.
Were John Wilkes Booth’s last words documented?
Booth's last words were reportedly 'Useless, useless' referring to his paralyzed hands, documented by soldiers present at his death in 1865. The phrase 'I have lived my truth' is fabricated and contradicts well-documented accounts.
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