Nathan Hale was a soldier for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. A captain in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, he famously announced "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" just before being executed by the British for being a spy. He grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Yale College. He began his career as a teacher, but when the War for Independence broke out, he accepted a commission as a lieutenant in the Continental Army. He served at Boston and then New York, where he volunteered to go behind British lines to gather intelligence. He was captured by the British and immediately admitted that he was spying for General George Washington. British general William Howe ordered the execution of Hale, who was hanged the next day. Although Hale's spying mission ended in failure, his display of patriotism made him a hero among the colonists fighting for independence. He died very young, at the age of 21, but his dedication to his beliefs are one of the symbols of American bravery and principles. Many statues and memorials honor this martyr and he was designated the official state hero of Connecticut