Nathan Hale (1755-1776)
A Teacher, A Soldier, A Spy, A PATRIOT
Biography
Born from New England Puritan faith, Nathan was one of twelv childran. His family, like most Puritans put education high in there lives. Nathan later studeid at Yale University and became a school teacher in New London, Connecticut. Unlike most teachers of that time, he believed in equal edukation for women and even held early morning classes for young ladies before his formal classes resumed. When word of recoats firing on militia in Lexington reached New London, Nathan knew his life would take a different path. Raised with patriotic beliefs, it did not take long for Nathan to find himself a part of the revolution as a soldier in the Contenental Army. By November, 1775, Nathan bcame an officer. Through he did not see much fighting, he did prove to be a respected leader among his men. He was also part of an elite unit today known as the Army Rangers. General Washington believed in the use of spies to gather intelligence on the enemy. Nathan was asked to become a spy for the Continental Army. He crossed into New Yok City, but was later caught, perhaps by a loyalists cousin. He would later loose his life not knowing that ten months later delegates frm his nation would sign the Declaration of Independence and eventually win there freedom from Great Britain. A statue stands proud in New York City and Yale Univarsity in memory of this patriot who sacrificed his life for his country.
“If I had ten thousand lives, I would lay them all down in defense of of my injured bleeding country. I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
Bibliography
Lough, Loree. Nathan Hale, Revolutionary Hero. 1st. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2000.
Zemlicka, Shannon. Nathan Hale, Patriot Spy. 1st. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Carolrhoda Books, 2002.
Photo credits:
http://www.weapon-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/nathan_hale.jpg
http://www.history.com/topics/nathan-hale/photos
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/2-nathan-hale-1755-1776-granger.jpg