Was Nathan Hale ever married?
Was Nathan Hale ever married? Of Nathan's personal life, we know little other than that he married and buried three wives: the first was Eunice Raymond whom he married on 14 August, 1793, in Rindge. To them was born an infant of which the record states: "b. and d. 1794." Eunice died (I suspect in childbirth), on 27 November, 1794.
Did Nathan Hale have any children?
When he was eighteen years old, Hale married Abigail Putnam, who was several years younger than him. They had three children together: Elizabeth, John, and Mary. However, only two of them survived until adulthood: Elizabeth and John.
What did Nathan Hale say before he was hanged?
What did Nathan Hale say before he was hanged? “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”. Have you heard this famous declaration before? American patriot Nathan Hale said it on September 22, 1776, his last words before he was hanged for spying on British troops. How did this come to pass?
Why is Nathan Hale a patriot?
Why is Nathan Hale a patriot? Nathan Hale was a Connecticut patriot and spy during the Revolutionary War. On September 8, 1776, with the British on Long Island, Hale volunteered to go behind enemy lines and report on British troop movements. The British captured Hale and sentenced him to hang for spying.
How many family members did Nathan Hale have?
Their son Nathan — to whose memory these pages are dedicated — was born June 6, 1755, the fifth boy and sixth child in the family of twelve. He had eight brothers and three sisters, two dying in infancy.
How old was Nathan Hale when he was hanged?
21 years oldHale, despite being disguised, was apprehended and questioned, and physical evidence of his spying was seized. On the morning of September 22, Hale was marched along the Post Road to a public house called the Dove Tavern and hanged. He was 21 years old.
What is Nathan Hale full name?
Nathan Hale, (born June 6, 1755, Coventry, Connecticut [U.S.]—died September 22, 1776, Manhattan Island, New York), American Revolutionary officer who attempted to spy on the British and was hanged.
What were Nathan's last words?
"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." Have you heard this famous declaration before? American patriot Nathan Hale said it on September 22, 1776, his last words before he was hanged for spying on British troops.
Where is Nathan Hales grave?
Hale's body was never found. His family erected an empty grave cenotaph in Nathan Hale Cemetery in South Coventry Historic District, Connecticut.
How tall is Nathan Hale?
Nathan Hale, model 1889/1890, cast 1890. height: 71.1 cm (28 in.)
What did Nathan say before he died?
After being led to the gallows, legend holds that Hale was asked if he had any last words and that he replied with these now-famous words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” There is no historical record to prove that Hale actually made this statement, but, if he did, he may have been ...
Who was the first spy?
Often dubbed “America's first spy,” Nathan Hale was a Yale graduate who served in Knowlton's Rangers, a short-lived Continental reconnaissance unit.
What rank was Nathan Hale?
Hale was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment on November 8, 1776. Achieving success in battle, he was again promoted to colonel on April 2, 1777.
Who got hung in the Revolutionary War?
Nathan HaleOn this day in 1776, British troops hanged Nathan Hale during the Revolutionary War. Hale, 21, a former schoolteacher and a Connecticut native, was a captain in the Continental Army.
Why is Nathan Hale a hero?
Nathan Hale was an American spy in the Revolutionary War. He was captured by British troops while spying on them and was executed. He should be remembered as a great hero because he went beyond the army's expectations and inspired our army to keep on fighting, and dedicated his life to protecting our country.
What did Nathan Hale mean?
Definitions of Nathan Hale. a soldier of the American Revolution who was hanged as a spy by the British; his last words were supposed to have been "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country" (1755-1776) synonyms: Hale.
What did Nathan say before he died?
After being led to the gallows, legend holds that Hale was asked if he had any last words and that he replied with these now-famous words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” There is no historical record to prove that Hale actually made this statement, but, if he did, he may have been ...
What did Nathan Hale do in his early life?
Nathan Hale was the sixth of the Hale children, born on June 6th, 1755, into a respectable Puritan family in Coventry, Connecticut. Hale's early life was spent much like children living in the countryside in the 18th century – fishing, hunting, and chores to maintain the homestead.
Who got hung in the Revolutionary War?
Nathan HaleOn this day in 1776, British troops hanged Nathan Hale during the Revolutionary War. Hale, 21, a former schoolteacher and a Connecticut native, was a captain in the Continental Army.
Who was hung during the American Revolution?
The American Revolution—also called the U.S. War of Independence—was the insurrection fought between 1775 and 1783 through which 13 of Great Britain's North American colonies threw off British rule to establish the sovereign United States of America, founded with the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Who Was Nathan Hale?
After graduating from Yale University, Nathan Hale became a schoolteacher. When war began in the American colonies, he joined a Connecticut regiment and was made a captain in 1776. On a secret mission ordered by General George Washington, Hale went behind enemy lines to gather information on the British army’s location. He was captured by the British in New York City and hanged for espionage on September 22, 1776.
Where was Hale born?
Hale was born on June 6, 1755, in Coventry, Connecticut, the second son of Richard and Elizabeth Hale. A prominent family, the Hales were devout Puritans and instilled in their children the importance of hard work, religious virtue and education. At 14, Hale was sent off to Yale College with his older brother, Enoch, where he excelled in literature and debate. He graduated with honors, at age 18, and became a school teacher in East Haddam and later New London, Connecticut.
What did Hale say about his fate?
By all accounts, Hale met his fate with composure and resolve. As the hangman’s noose was placed around his neck, he made a “sensible and spirited speech” in defense of his actions and sense of duty. Legend states he declared, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”.
Why was Hale captured?
On a secret mission ordered by General George Washington, Hale went behind enemy lines to gather information on the British army’s location. He was captured by the British in New York City and hanged for espionage on September 22, 1776.
What did Hale tell Rogers?
According to this account, Hale told Rogers he was gathering information on the British Army’s positions. Rogers invited Hale to dinner at these quarters with several “friends.”. As he dined, Hale was taken into custody. Hale was sent to British headquarters for questioning by British General William Howe.
What is the significance of Hale's death?
After his death, his loyal friends and an anxious American public looking for heroes, transformed this young neophyte warrior into a symbol of self-sacrifice and martyrdom. Many statues and memorials were erected honoring his bravery and service to his country in the years following his death. In 1985, Hale was officially designated Connecticut’s state hero.
Why was Hale sent to the British headquarters?
Hale was sent to British headquarters for questioning by British General William Howe. Maps and drawings of fortifications were found on Hale, further implicating him as a spy. He provided his name, rank, and the reason he was behind British lines.
Why is Nathan Hale so famous?
Nathan Hale has been romanticized in American History for his sacrifice. He has been made to be a hero who bravely faced the gallows and was caught just before he was able to cross into safety. While he deserves credit for his bravery the mission was a fiasco and Hale was under supervision shortly after his feet landed on British occupied soil.
Where was Hale born?
Early Life. Hale was born on June 6, 1755, in Coventry, Connecticut. All reports point to him being a handsome and respectable man who was studious in his early education. His mother died when he was young and his father supported him and his brothers.
Why did Hull say he did not believe Hale had the character qualities necessary to be a spy?
Hull said that he did not believe Hale had the character qualities necessary to be a spy due to his strong opinions and inability to keep them to himself.
What did George Washington say about Hale?
Hale was hanged in 1776, but his death did aid George Washington in creating a proper spy ring throughout New York City.
What did Hale do in Alice?
Hale spent most of his time doing nothing but writing his lovely Alice, betting on fights, played checkers, and indulged in a bottle of wine at Brown’s Tavern. Life as a soldier was easy for Hale, but he was bored and sought to get into the action. The men of the seventh soon moved out towards Long Island.
When did Hale leave the Continental Army?
September 11 – 14: It is unclear to the exact date that Hale left the Continental Army camp, but it definitely happened during this timeframe.
Where did Hale go on his mission?
Hale’s mission was to scout Long Island and return to Washington and give him the details. After a bit of planning, Hale set off to Connecticut. It was the last time that his long-time friend William Hull would see him alive.
What rank did Nathan Hale get?
Young Nathan soon joined them. Having graduated with honors from Yale university at the tender age of 18, he was given the rank of 1st Lieutenant when he joined the Continental Army. In a matter of months, he was promoted ...
Who is Nathan Hale's nephew?
Perhaps Edward Everett Hale, Nathan Hale’s great nephew, summed up his legacy best: “Because that boy said those words, and because he died, thousands of other young men have given their lives to this country.”.
Why did Hale say he was hanging?
The reason, he said, was the the Provost Marshal did not want the Americans to know “that they had a man in the army who could die with so much firmness.”. On the morning of hanging, Hale was given an opportunity to make a dying speech. By every account, it was moving.
What was Hale's famous quote?
The famous words, I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country , were just the start of Hale’s bravery. Captain Montresor, an English officer, testified that after reading letters Nathan had written to his mother and an American officer, the British refused to send them. The reason, he said, was the the Provost Marshal did not want the Americans to know “that they had a man in the army who could die with so much firmness.”
Who was the spy who was hanged the next day?
Two hundered Americans were rounded up and jailed. Nathan Hale, proven to be a spy by the papers on his person, was sentenced to be hanged the very next day. It is for this that he is remembered.
Was Hale a spy?
Hale is not remembered for his success as a spy. He spent just over a week pretending to be a school teacher—his occupation before the war—then made his way back to an appointed meeting place at Oyster Bay. Seeing a boat arrive, he assumed it was his American compatriots and waved it down.
Who is Nathan Hale?
2. Nathan Hale was a teacher. Graduating at the young age of 18 from Yale, he got a position as a teacher right away, an interesting fact about Nathan Hale.
How old was Nathan Hale when he was executed?
Nathan Hale was only 21 when he was executed. After being captured, Hale was brought to New York City, where he was eventually executed. The exact location is still unknown, and there are different sites quoted where he could have been executed.
What was Nathan Hale's role in the Linonian Society?
Hale and his brother both joined an exclusive society called the Linonian Society of Yale, where they had the opportunity to debate on topics covering mathematics, literature, astronomy, but also the ethics of slavery. 2. Nathan Hale was a teacher. Graduating at the young age of 18 from Yale, he got a position as a teacher right away, ...
What is Nathan Hale's education?
Nathan Hale Facts. 1. Hale was brought up with a first-class education. Born in Connecticut, Nathan Hale was given a very good education growing up. With his brother Enoch, he was sent to Yale College at the age of fourteen, and that’s where he got to meet other revolutionary spirits such as Benjamin Tallmadge, who would also become a Patriot spy. ...
Why is Nathan Hale so famous?
The American hero Nathan Hale will be known to many because of his courageous demeanor during the American Revolutionary War, where he fought and also acted as a spy for the Continental Army . He is now the state hero of Connecticut and revered for his bravery which played an important role in the United States’ fight for independence from ...
What is Nathan Hale's famous phrase?
An interesting fact about Nathan Hale is that it is now commonly believed that Hale’s famous phrase is more of an abbreviation of a speech he managed to give before being hanged. Some historians believe he quoted the following passage from the play Cato by Joseph Addison, which was popular at the time and potentially well known to Hale given his Yale education:
Why did Nathan Hale turn in to the British?
This was simply because Samuel was a Loyalist, siding with the British crown. 8. Nathan Hale was only 21 when he was executed.
Who Was Nathan Hale?
Early Life
- Hale was born on June 6, 1755, in Coventry, Connecticut, the second son of Richard and Elizabeth Hale. A prominent family, the Hales were devout Puritans and instilled in their children the importance of hard work, religious virtue and education. At 14, Hale was sent off to Yale College with his older brother, Enoch, where he excelled in literature and debate. He graduated with hono…
Military Service
- In July 1775, Hale joined the Connecticut militia and was elected First Lieutenant. Some accounts say he saw battle during the Siege of Boston, while others point out he was still under his teaching obligation. Records do show he was commissioned a captain in General George Washington’s army in January 1776. After the British captured Boston, General Washington moved his army t…
Secret Spy Mission
- Though spying was not considered honorable for a gentleman, Hale volunteered, perhaps out of a sense of duty, or because he hadn’t seen military action up to then. In any case, he was fully aware of the danger: spies were considered illegal combatants and quickly executed. Hale left the American lines at Harlem Heights on September 12, 1776, posing as an itinerant teacher. He tra…
Capture and Execution
- Some accounts state he was recognized by his cousin Samuel Hale, a Loyalist working for the British, who turned him over to authorities. Another version reports British Major Robert Rogers recognized Hale, despite his disguise, in a New York City tavern. Not divulging his revelation, Rogers struck up a conversation with Hale and gained his trust, telling him he was a patriot sym…
Legacy
- After his death, his loyal friends and an anxious American public looking for heroes, transformed this young neophyte warrior into a symbol of self-sacrifice and martyrdom. Many statues and memorials were erected honoring his bravery and service to his country in the years following his death. In 1985, Hale was officially designated Connecticut’s state hero.