Obtaining counterintelligence is one of the key ways countries can work to preserve their national security, especially in times of conflict. Countries have used spies for thousands of years to gather information about their enemies. The first recorded American spy was a man named Nathan Hale, who served as a spy during the Revolutionary War. How much do you know about this brave spy and the impact he had on our country’s history?
Nathan Hale was born in Connecticut in 1755. He attended Yale College and eventually became a teacher after graduating with first-class honors. He taught for just two years before joining up with a Connecticut militia unit when the American Revolution started in 1775.
In March 1776, George Washington wrote about the British Army in a letter to Josiah Quincy, saying, “There is one evil I dread, and that is their spies.” So it makes perfect sense that Washington created a spy ring of his own. When he asked for volunteers, Hale stepped up.
Hale didn’t have the benefit of training with the FBI or the CIA. He didn’t know the first thing about being a spy, and some argue that he was the wrong man for the job because of his loyalist cousin and easily recognizable face.
Despite all that, Hale left all his belongings behind and took on a new identity to spy for his country. But he didn’t have to put on much of a disguise: his cover was as a schoolteacher looking for work, a role he fit right into.
Sadly, Hale was captured and executed after just a few weeks of serving as a spy. But his bravery and willingness to serve his country have made him a hero in American history.
