HALE

hale, nathan (1756-1776). american hero of the war of independence, was born at coventry, conn., and educated at yale, then becoming a school teacher. he joined a connecticut regiment after the breaking out of the war, and served in the siege of boston, being commissioned a captain at the opening of 1776. when heath's brigade departed for new york he went with them, and the tradition is that he was one of a small and daring band who captured an english provision sloop from under the very guns of a man-of-war. but on the 21st of september, having volunteered to enter the british lines to obtain information concerning the enemy, he was captured in his disguise of a dutch school-teacher and on the 22nd was hanged. the penalty was in accordance with military law, but young hale's act was a brave one, and he has always been glorified as a martyr. tradition attributes to him the saying that he only regretted that he had but one life to lose for his country; and it is said that his request for a bible and the services of a minister was refused by his captors. there is a fine statue of hale by macmonnies in new york. see h. p. johnston, _nathan hale_ (1901).