Nathan hale biography revolutionary war soldiers database

Nathan Hale was cut out to be a military man. Five of his brothers fought at the battles of Lexington and Concord. 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 to Captain and given command of a group of Rangers defending New York City.

In July of , the British began building up troops on Staten Island.

Why was nathan hale important

Because the British navy controlled the waters around New York, there was nothing the Americans could do to prevent this. 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.

Unfortunately, it proved to be a British frigate, and he was caught as he fled.