Richard Herrick
First organ donor
About Richard Herrick
Lived 1931 – 1963 (aged 31). Richard Herrick was an American.
Richard J. Herrick (June 15, 1931 – March 14, 1963) was an American who gained worldwide recognition as the first beneficiary of a successful human organ transplant.
Herrick suffered from kidney disease. Under the direction of Joseph Murray, J. Hartwell Harrison, and John Merrill, Herrick underwent a groundbreaking surgical procedure. This operation, conducted on December 23, 1954, facilitated by the donation of a kidney from his identical twin brother Ronald, represented a significant advancement in medical science. Following the transplant, he experienced an extension of life by eight years until succumbing to a fatal heart attack at the age of 31.
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Important facts
People in Richard Herrick's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Richard Herrick's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Richard Herrick?
first organ donor (1931–1963)
When was Richard Herrick born?
Richard Herrick was born on 15 June 1931 in Worcester.
When did Richard Herrick die?
Richard Herrick died on 14 March 1963 in Shrewsbury.
What nationality was Richard Herrick?
Richard Herrick was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Richard Herrick. https://biography.guide/richard-herrick/
MLA: "Richard Herrick." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/richard-herrick/.
Chicago: "Richard Herrick." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/richard-herrick/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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