Christine Jorgensen (May 30, 1926 - May 3, 1989) was an American who was the first person to become widely known in the United States for having sex reassignment surgery, n this case, male to female. Jorgensen was born George William Jorgensen, Jr. grew up in the Bronx. Jorgensen graduated in 1945 and was drafted into the Army. Returning home after military service, Jorgensen heard about sex reassignment surgery and began taking the female hormone ethinyl estradiol on her own. She intended to go to Sweden, where doctors were performing this surgery were located. During a stopover in Copenhagen to visit relatives, she met Dr. Christian Hamburger, a Danish endocrinologist and specialist in rehabilitative hormonal therapy. She stayed in Denmark and was allowed to begin hormone replacement therapy. She got special permission from the Danish Minister of Justice to undergo a series of operations. Jorgensen's testicles were removed first and a year later, still in Denmark, she had a penectomy. Jorgensen then returned to the US in 1953 and eventually obtained a vaginoplasty when the procedure became available. She chose the name Christine in honor of Dr. Hamburger. She became a spokesperson for transsexual and transgender people. During the 1970s and 1980s, Jorgensen toured university campuses and other venues to speak about her experiences. She was known for her directness and polished wit. She died of bladder and lung cancer four weeks short of her 63rd birthday.