Nathan Hale

1755 – 1776

Nathan Hale was a Continental Army officer and intelligence-gathering volunteer during the American Revolutionary War. Captured by the British during a covert mission in New York City, he was hanged without trial on September 22, 1776, at the age of 21. His widely reported final words—"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country"—made him an enduring symbol of patriotic sacrifice and led to his designation as Connecticut's official state hero in 1985.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM