Richard Alpert (also known as Richardus and by his birth name Ricardo) is a long-time inhabitant of the Island, having arrived in 1867 as a slave on the Black Rock. Soon after he arrived, he asked Jacob to make him ageless, and in exchange held a leadership position with the Others as an advisor and the sole intermediary between Jacob and the people who were brought to the Island. Richard believed that even though he cannot kill himself, others are capable of killing him. He perpetually appeared to be in his late 30s or early 40s, whether on or off the Island.