Al Herpin
Encyclopedia
Al Herpin was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 known as the "Man Who Never Slept".

Al Herpin, who lived in Trenton, New Jersey, claimed to have developed a rare case of insomnia
Insomnia
Insomnia is most often defined by an individual's report of sleeping difficulties. While the term is sometimes used in sleep literature to describe a disorder demonstrated by polysomnographic evidence of disturbed sleep, insomnia is often defined as a positive response to either of two questions:...

, whereby he could not sleep
Sleep
Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by reduced or absent consciousness, relatively suspended sensory activity, and inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, and is more easily reversible than...

. The supposed cause is unknown, although it may be linked to his mother suffering a major injury a few days prior to his birth.

In the late 1940s, Al Herpin's claim attracted the attention of several medical professionals, who marched to his door one day. They found no bed, or other sleep-related furniture, but only a rocking chair. Herpin claimed that after a long day's work, he would rest in his rocking chair reading the newspaper until dawn, then return to work. He was in good health, and had a constant level of high awareness, defying all scientific understanding of the necessity for sleep.

A piece in the New York Times on February 29, 1904 reported that:

Albert Herpin, born in France in 1862 and for fifteen years a hostler in the employ of Freeholder Walter Phares of this city, declares that he has not slept a wink during the past ten years. Notwithstanding this, he is in perfect health, and does not seem to suffer any discomfort from his remarkable condition.


Al Herpin died on January 3, 1947, reportedly at the age of 94; however, this is inconsistent with the previous assertion that he was born in 1862. His death saw another New York Times story of his claim:


Death came today for Alfred E. Herpin, a recluse who lived on the outskirts of the city and insisted that he never slept. He was 94 years old and, when questioned concerning his claim of "sleeplessness", maintained that he never actually dozed but merely "rested".

No other person with total insomnia has lived for such a long period of time. It was likely that he died for other reasons, not sleep deprivation, as his insomnia did not seem to have any effect on his health.

See also

  • Thai Ngoc
    Thai Ngoc
    Thai Ngoc or Hai Ngoc is a Vietnamese insomniac. According to Vietnamese news organization Thanh Nien, he is best known for his claim of being awake for 38 years. Thanh Nien also claimed that Ngoc acquired the ability to go without sleep after a bout of fever in 1973, but according to the Vietnam...

    , Vietnamese insomniac, claimed to be awake for 33 years
  • Sleep state misperception
    Sleep state misperception
    Sleep state misperception is a term in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders most commonly used for people who mistakenly perceive their sleep as wakefulness, though it has been proposed that it be applied to those who severely overestimate their sleep time as well...

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