Thomas Jefferson and John Adams die | July 4, 1826 | HISTORY
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On July 4, 1826, former Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who were once fellow Patriots and then adversaries, die on the same day within five hours of each other. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were the last surviving members of the original American revolutionaries who had stood up to the British empire and forged […]

Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans. And for all non-Americans, I hope you’re having a swell summer day too!

July 4th is often associated with American independence: The day that the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, asserting the U.S’s independence from Great Britain. It’s a joyful occasion, often marked with fireworks, stars and stripes, and copious celebration.

But the day isn’t without it’s fair share of saddening and bittersweet connotations either. It was on this day, in 1826, that Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson would pass away.

Normally, I would paraphrase the source material that I cite, but I could not have said this any more succinctly:

On July 4, 1826, at the age of 90, Adams lay on his deathbed while the country celebrated Independence Day. His last words were, “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” He was mistaken: Jefferson had died five hours earlier at Monticello at the age of 83.