No other man has been able to encapsulate true selflessness and love for one’s country the way Nathan Hale had. A brilliant mind, military leader, and spy, Nathan Hale became the first ever American to be executed for spying on the British during the American Revolution. He died by hanging, with his famous words being “I only regret that I have one life to give for my country”. For more facts on the Revolutionary War Hero, here are 10 just for you:

Fact 1: Nathan Hale was a man of greatness. A graduate from Yale University, he was a selfless warrior, spy, and military leader. A significant part of the American Revolution revolved around his service for infiltrating the British camps and spying on them under the guise of a Dutch schoolteacher.

Fact 2: Hale actually did not receive any formal training of any kind. His espionage and intelligence gathering was completely driven by his loyalty and love for his country. It is said that there is no man who loved America and wanted to win its freedom more than Nathan Hale.

Fact 3: When he was found out by the British and sentenced to execution, his famous last words were “I only regret that I only have one life to give for my country”. Nathan Hale became the first person to be executed for spying for America.

Fact 4: He was one of six children who grew up on a farm in Coventry, Connecticut. The prosperous farm enabled hale and his older brother to receive an education at Yale. There, he was part of a literary fraternity called Linonia.

Fact 5: He graduated in the year 1773 and pursued a career as a schoolteacher in East Haddam when he saw an opening for the job on the newspaper. Hale taught regular classes but went the extra mile by offering classes to women, too. He often spoke about the inequality between men and women and fought for a society that gave the same respect and opportunities to both sexes.

Fact 6: Nathan Hale became part of the Connecticut militia and was elected as first lieutenant. Although he was given a high rank and was showered with respect and achievements, he did not participate in military combat. He only began to participate in 1776, when a dear friend penned him a letter and urged him to take part of the action.

Fact 7: The night before Nathan Hale was to be executed by hanging in the gallows, he requested a Bible and a clergyman be brought to his cell. Both requests were denied by the British. He also asked for paper and writing materials and began to write letters down. All for naught, unfortunately. The letters were destroyed following his death.

Fact 8: How Nathan Hale’s cover was blown remains a mystery today. Some believe that a British Major by the name of Robert Rogers caught him spying. Pretending to be an American undercover spy he approached Hale and had him reveal the truth. Another account is one far more terrible. It is believed that he was turned in by his cousin Samuel Hale who was a loyalist.

Fact 9: He was executed on the morning of September 22^nd, 1776. He marched along Post Road till he reached the Park of Artillery where the gallows waited. He met his demise with a heart full of hope for American Independence. He died at the age of 21.

Fact 10: Letters and notes were found in Hale’s shoes, all valuable information which described in detail the entirety of the British camp; from sketches of the British fortifications, to notations and even numbers and positions.