I am probably wrong, but I think some people can will themselves to die. Mark Twain supposedly was born when Halleys comet appeared in the sky in 1835 and he said he hoped to die when it came back in 1910. Well he did.
I recently read a biography of Mark Twain and cigars and whiskey had a lot to do with his death. Plus his youngest daughter died in a most tragic manner just months before Twain's death.
I think you’re right. I read one account that said some of Jefferson’s last words were, “Is it the 4th yet?”
My Dad chose his time. Nine years after his first heart attack, I came home on leave from overseas. I was sitting on the couch in the den and Dad was in his his usual wing-back chair. He all a suddenly asked me if I had been saved? I told him that I was and told him about it. He said I was the last one of my siblings and he had a rapturous look on his face. I told him not to die now just knowing that. He said he wasn't going to and promised he wouldn't.
The next day Mom and Dad drove me to the airport to catch a flight to New Jersey to catch a C-141 to the Azores. Mom and Dad's plan was to stay in a Hotel next to the airport and drive back home the next day.
The next day back in the apartment at 74 Rua São Salvador, Praia da Vitória, Azores, Portugal, I got a knock on the door and it was the First Sergeant telling me that Dad had passed away.
He had a DNR order this time not like the other heart attacks. He picked his time and was ready to go.
And sometimes you can will it, “unwittingly.”
On 13 December 1799 Washington became ill and when Martha raised what he considered overdue concern he told her, “don’t worry - I won’t fail to see our new nation into the new century.” Immediately after which he ordered a pint of his blood be removed. As he worsened several doctors were called, and over the course of the next 24-36 hours they eventually drew upwards of 5 pints. He had a serious throat infection, and the removal of 5 pints of blood all but guaranteed he could never fight it off.
He was dead that night on the 14th of December. So, I guess he wasn’t able to will himself into the next century with barely more than two weeks to go.