Benjamin Disraeli heard an amusing story about what he claimed were Pitt’s last words. An elderly House of Commons waiter and keeper of secrets told him: ‘You hear many lies told as history, sir,’ he said; ‘do you know what Mr. Pitt’s last words were?’ – ‘Of course,’ said Disraeli, ‘they are well known … ‘O my country! how I love my country!’’ for that was then the authorised version.

‘Nonsense,’ said the old man. ‘I’ll tell you how it was. Late one night I was called out of bed by a messenger in a postchaise, shouting to me outside the window. ‘What is it?’ I said. ‘You’re to get up and dress and bring some of your meat pies down to Mr. Pitt at Putney.’ So I went; and as we drove along he told me that Mr. Pitt had not been able to take any food, but had suddenly said, ‘I think I could eat one of Bellamy’s meat pies.’ And so I was sent for post-haste. When we arrived Mr. Pitt was dead. Them was his last words. ‘I think I could eat one of Bellamy’s meat pies.’

(Taken from Robert Harvey – War of Wars)

More Historical Miscellany here.

Image credit: Ann Wuyts