Man Who Never Slept - Al Herpin

Al Herpin, who born in 1862, was an American known as the "Man Who Never Slept". Al Herpin, who lived in Trenton, New Jersey, claimed to have developed a rare case of insomnia, whereby he could not sleep. 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; inspecting his house 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. Al Herpin died on January 3, 1947, reportedly at the age of 94.