Edward Everett Hale was an American author, historian, and Unitarian minister who lived from 1822 to 1909. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he came from a notable family—he was the grand-nephew of Nathan Hale, the American Revolutionary War spy. Hale is best known for his writings in support of the Union during the American Civil War, particularly his story "The Man Without a Country," which was published in Atlantic Monthly. This work became one of his most enduring contributions to American literature.