This is probably the most famous quote by the American writer Mark Twain. At the end of the 19th century, while Twain was living in Europe a rumor started going around that he was dead. The rumor probably originated from a letter about one of Twain's dying relatives.
The rumor soon made it to the United States, and a newspaper reported the passing away of the famous Missourian writer. In May of 1867 Mark Twain sent a telegram to the editor of the paper with these immortal words.