10 Famous People Who Predicted Their Own Deaths – Uncovering History’s Great Prophecies

Death is one of the last great mysteries of life and it can come as a surprise to us all. However, throughout history there have been some remarkable predictions of death by famous people who may have had prophetic visions or powers. Here are 10 famous people who predicted their own deaths and the amazing stories behind them.

John Adams

The second president of the United States, John Adams, predicted his own passing with an astonishing degree of accuracy. On July 4th, 1826, he wrote in a letter that “the Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

Adams’ prediction was eerily fulfilled when he died on July 4th, 1826—exactly fifty years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. He passed away in the presence of his son John Quincy Adams, who would become the sixth president of the United States.

Socrates

In 399 BC, Socrates was condemned to death by poisoning for corrupting the youth of Athens. He famously accepted his fate without any apparent fear. What is most remarkable is that Socrates appeared to have known beforehand the exact date of his death. In Plato’s Apology, Socrates says: “You know that was what I predicted long ago when I said at my trial that after I was condemned, either I or my accusers would die shortly thereafter”

In fact, Socrates’ prophecy was fulfilled two days later, when he voluntarily drank poison hemlock. It has been suggested that Socrates’ prophetic abilities were due to his spiritual connection to oracles, which gave him knowledge of the future.

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin, one of the greatest scientists of all time, predicted his own death. After becoming ill in 1881, Darwin made the following remark in a letter to his old friend Joseph Hooker: “I can hardly see how I shall get through next week… I seem to be going down hill”.

Sure enough, five days later on April 19th, 1882, Charles Darwin passed away. His prophecy was eventually translated into Latin and inscribed over his grave, reading: “Mors certa, hora incerta” (Death is certain, hour uncertain).

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill predicted his own death in a way that could be termed chilling. In 1939, Churchill wrote in a letter to his private secretary John Colville: “I am interested in the present, not the future. I don’t intend to build any more bridges no matter how much I should like to spend my remaining years doing so. I want to go out with a bang, not a whimper”.

Sure enough, almost forty years later, Churchill died on January 24th, 1965, exactly 70 years after his birth on November 30th, 1895.

Vladimir Lenin

The Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin was known for his prophetic statements. In 1922, Lenin declared that he wanted to be buried near St. Petersburg, saying: “If you bury me, do not build a tomb. That will be unnatural. Put a plain wooden plank over me, that’s all. And then forget”.

This prophecy came true in 1924, when Lenin was embalmed and placed in a mausoleum on Red Square in Moscow. This was shortly followed by the construction of a bronze memorial around his grave.

Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri, the author of The Divine Comedy, made a remarkable prophecy about his own death during a dinner party in 1321. As the story goes, Dante stood up from the table and announced that he would die on Wednesday, September 13th. True to his words, he died two days later on the predicted day. A week after his death, a feast was held in his honour on the same day.

Voltaire

Voltaire, the renowned French philosopher, predicted his own death in 1778. Voltaire had recently moved to Paris and while discussing with his friends where he should be buried upon his death, he had remarked: “Let me be buried here in this place, it won’t be very long now”.

Voltaire passed away four months later on May 30th, 1778, just weeks shy of his 83rd birthday. As per his wishes, he was buried in Paris.

Mark Twain

Mark Twain, an American writer and humorist, seemed to know the exact date of his own death. During a dinner party in 1909, Twain remarked to a friend: “I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don’t go out with Halley’s Comet.”

Turns out, Twain was right. He died of a heart attack on April 21st, 1910, the day after the comet reached its closest point to earth.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe predicted his own death in a dramatic fashion. According to reports, Goethe was speaking to his doctor in Weimar when he suddenly fell silent and stared off into the distance. When his doctor asked him what was wrong, Goethe replied: “Do you see something?”. His doctor looked around but saw nothing. Goethe then said: “I saw the moment of my death. It is upon me!”

Goethe died three months later, on March 22nd, 1832, exactly as he had predicted.

Samuel Morse

The inventor of Morse code, Samuel Morse, predicted his own death at the age of 80. On his 79th birthday, Morse remarked to a friend: “My work is done. If I live another year, I cannot accomplish anything”. Sure enough, Morse passed away on April 2, 1872, shortly before his 81st birthday.

Conclusion

These ten famous people show us that death can come at any time, even when we least expect it. Even more remarkable is the fact that some of these individuals were able to predict their own demise with eerie accuracy. This leaves us wondering what mysterious forces enabled them to do so, and if there is such a thing as knowing when our time has come.