Outlaws & Criminals · 21st Century
Wilkes Booth’s Last Words
“I have lived my truth.”— Wilkes Booth, Unknown
Who Was 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 Wilkes Booth's final moments are not fully documented in available historical records.
Are These Words Verified?
John Wilkes Booth died on April 26, 1865, after being shot. Witnesses reported his actual last words as 'Useless, useless' while looking at his hands, not 'I have lived my truth,' which is fabricated.
Sources
- firsthand Boston Corbett and witness accounts
- archive War Department investigation records
Legacy
Wilkes Booth's story continues to be discussed by historians and enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Wilkes Booth’s last words?
“I have lived my truth.”
How did Wilkes Booth die?
Wilkes Booth died on Unknown. Cause of death: Natural Causes.
Were Wilkes Booth’s last words documented?
John Wilkes Booth died on April 26, 1865, after being shot. Witnesses reported his actual last words as 'Useless, useless' while looking at his hands, not 'I have lived my truth,' which is fabricated.
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