Artists & Writers · 18th Century
William Wordsworth’s Last Words
“Is that Dora?”— William Wordsworth, April 23, 1850
Who Was William Wordsworth?
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who helped launch the Romantic Age in English literature with Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
The Final Moments
Wordsworth asked if the woman by his bed was his late daughter Dora who had died three years before. His wife Mary was there.
Are These Words Verified?
Reported by family members present, particularly his wife Mary. The question about deceased daughter Dora appears in credible 19th-century biographical accounts.
Sources
- firsthand Mary Wordsworth account
- biography Christopher Wordsworth 'Memoirs of William Wordsworth'
Legacy
The Prelude and Tintern Abbey are landmarks of English poetry. Wordsworth's nature poetry influenced generations of writers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were William Wordsworth’s last words?
“Is that Dora?”
How did William Wordsworth die?
William Wordsworth died on April 23, 1850 at the age of 80. Cause of death: Pleurisy.
Were William Wordsworth’s last words documented?
Reported by family members present, particularly his wife Mary. The question about deceased daughter Dora appears in credible 19th-century biographical accounts.
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