Nathan Hale was born in 1755 to two respectable New England families--Puritans who stressed education, work ethics and religious devotion. Nathan Hale was an extremely well educated young man for his day. He was a serious student who was exposed to new and interesting ideas of the time during his college years in New Haven. He belonged to a secret fraternity that discussed such issues as literature, astronomy and the rights and wrongs of slavery.

When Nathan first graduated college, like many other young graduates, he became a school teacher, first in East Haddam then later in New London, Connecticut, a town he liked very much. It even had a liberal (free thinking) newspaper. Nathan liked teaching a great deal and his gentle manner of teaching was greatly appreciated by students and parents alike.

Nathan joined the local militia in 1774 and was elected First Sergeant by his comrades. This was the highest rank of any new recruit. They recognized his military talent and enthusiasm. In April, even though Hale's militia unit left when the Revolutionary war broke out, Hale remained behind-probably because his teaching contract did not expire until later in the year. One of his best friends, Benjamin Tallmadge, sent him a letter urging him to rejoin the militia and defend the country. Nathan then accepted a position in the Charles Webb's 7th Connecticut regiment as a first Lieutenant.

Nathan became a captain in the 19th Connecticut regiment in 1776 and spent six months in New York with General George Washington preparing for battle with the British. George Washington desperately needed information about the British invasion, so Nathan Hale volunteered to go behind enemy lines even though, at that time, being a spy was considered very dishonorable. He defended his mission by saying that a task that was required for the public good became honorable. The city of New York was set on fire, and in the confusion, Nathan Hale tried to make it back to General Washington. Unfortunately, he was caught on September 21st and admitted that he was a spy. He was held be General William Howe, who denied him the comfort of a minister or bible, and was hung without a trial the next morning, Sunday, September 22, 1776.

He is remembered by a statement he made on the gallows (the wooden frame on which he was hung), "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."