Hale, Captain Nathan

Nathan Hale was born in Coventry on June 6, 1755. He graduated from

Yale and took a job as a teacher at Union School. He quickly volunteered his

service to the patriots at the start of the Revolutionary War. After the

Continental Army was pushed out of Long Island information was needed

about the British Army’s actions in New York City. In September of 1776

Nathan Hale quickly volunteered to become a spy. He left the Continental

Army and made a plan to travel to New York City. Once he reached New York

he disguised himself as a Dutch schoolmaster. He spent a few weeks

gathering information and made his plan to escape back to Connecticut.

However, he was captured on September 21st. The drawings and notes that

he had taken were found hidden inside his jacket. He readily admitted to

being a Patriot spy and was hung the following day. His last words were

believed to have been, “I regret that I have but one life to give for my

country.” Today he is known as the state hero of Connecticut.

Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution https://www.connecticutsar.org/patriots/hale_nathan.htm