People who really just needed one more drink before going
Jack Daniel
1. “One last drink, please” – Jack Daniel
Jasper Newton Daniel was an American distiller and business person most famous for the creation of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. Daniel famously requested one last drink on his death bed. We can only speculate that his last drink must have been his own famous smoothest sippin’ whiskey.
Carl Jung
2. "Let's have a really good red wine tonight." – Carl Jung
Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology. Jung’s work has had reaching implications in a multitude of fields including psychiatry, anthropology, archaeology, literature, philosophy, psychology, and religious studies. A long-time friend and correspondent of Sigmund Freud, the two collectively developed the field of psychoanalysis. On his death bed he recommended to those nearby “Let’s have a really good red wine tonight”.
Humphrey Bogart
3. “I should have never switched from Scotch to Martinis.” – Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American film and stage actor. His roles in Classical Hollywood Cinema films quickly turned him into an American cultural icon. His most significant romantic lead role was with Ingrid Bergman in the universally known movie Casablanca. On his deathbed at the age of 57 he uttered his memorable last words to his wife and children, “I should have never switched from Scotch to Martinis”.
Pablo Picasso
4. “Drink to me, Drink to my health, you know I can’t drink anymore” – Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso is a painter who needs no introduction. Despite being born in Spain on October 25, 1881 he lived most of his life in France. He is often attributed as a co-founder of the Cubist movement, the invention of constructed sculpture, and the co-invention of collage. Paul McCartney would later compose the song “Drink to me” in honor of Picasso’s famous last words.
Anton Chekhov
5. “I haven’t had champagne for a long time” – Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian playwright and short-story writer. During his career he came to be considered as one of the greatest writers in the world. A doctor by profession, “medicine is my lawful wife”, he once said, “and literature is my mistress”. In his last moments his Doctor gave him an injection of camphor and ordered a glass of champagne. Chekhov smiled at his wife and said “I haven’t had champagne for a long time”. His wife recounts that afterwards he lay quietly on his side and passed peacefully as if he were a sleeping child.
Tallulah Bankhead
6. "Codeine... bourbon." – Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was an American stage and screen actress in the early and mid 20th century. Her support for liberal causes like the budding civil rights movement marked a significant departure from other southern contemporaries. She was even often known to oppose her own family publicly. She was known for her husky voice, outrageous personality, and devastating wit and despite primarily acting on the stage she did star in one hit film by Alfred Hitchcock, Lifeboat. She died on December 12, 1968, of double pneumonia complicated by emphysema due to cigarette smoking and malnutrition.
Anton Cermak
7. "Take that tent thing off me and give me something to drink. Quit shooting that stuff into my arm and leave me alone. I'm going to get well." – Anton Cermak
Anton Joseph Cermak was an American politician who served as the 44th mayor of Chicago. Born to a mining family in what is now known as the Czech Republic, he emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1874. On March 6, 1933 he was fatally shot by an assassin while shaking hands with President Roosevelt, the suspected target of the assassination attempt.
Neville Heath
8. "You might make that a double." – Neville Heath
Neville George Clevely Heath was an English murderer who killed two young women in the summer of 1946. He was found guilty and condemned to death by hanging before which he was offered a final drink, as was custom.
Turlough O’Carolan
9. "It would be hard indeed if we two dear friends should part after so many years, without one sweet kiss." – Turlough O’Carolan
Turlough O’Carolan was a blind Celtic harper, composer, and singer in Ireland who was especially known for his beautiful melodic composition. Although not a composer in the classical sense, O’Carolan is considered by many to be the national composer of Ireland. He re-composed 214 songs during his lifetime, making improvements to classical Irish songs. The dear friend O’Carolan spoke of in his final moments was a glass of wine that he was not able to drink.
Ludwig van Beethoven
10. "Pity, pity - too late!" – Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most renowned musical composers and pianists of all time. Well known for his furious temper, Beethoven’s strong emotions can be felt through his works. Later in life Beethoven became deaf, which he did not allow to impede his work as a composer. Upon hearing that his publisher had gifted him 12 bottles of wine while on his deathbed, Beethoven characteristically exclaimed “Pity, pity – too late!”
