Artists & Writers · 18th Century
Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Last Words
“He drowned before he could speak any final words.”— Percy Bysshe Shelley, July 8, 1822
Who Was Percy Bysshe Shelley?
Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets. His Ode to the West Wind, Ozymandias, and Prometheus Unbound are masterworks.
The Final Moments
Shelley drowned when his boat Don Juan sank in a storm off the coast of Italy. His body was found 10 days later and cremated on the beach.
Are These Words Verified?
Accurately describes death by drowning with no final words. Well-documented by contemporaries including Trelawny and Mary Shelley; body recovered days later.
Sources
- firsthand Edward John Trelawny 'Records of Shelley, Byron, and the Author'
- firsthand Mary Shelley correspondence
Legacy
Shelley's Ozymandias — with its warning that all empires crumble — is one of the most quoted poems in English.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Percy Bysshe Shelley’s last words?
“He drowned before he could speak any final words.”
How did Percy Bysshe Shelley die?
Percy Bysshe Shelley died on July 8, 1822 at the age of 29. Cause of death: Drowning in a sailing accident.
Were Percy Bysshe Shelley’s last words documented?
Accurately describes death by drowning with no final words. Well-documented by contemporaries including Trelawny and Mary Shelley; body recovered days later.
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