Nathan Heald

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Nathan Heald (New Ipswich, New Hampshire September 24, 1775 - O'Fallon, Missouri April 27, 1832) was an officer in the United States army during the War of 1812. He was in command of Fort Dearborn in Chicago at the time of the Fort Dearborn Massacre.

Captain Heald was stationed in Fort Wayne, Indiana prior to his appointment at Fort Dearborn, where he relieved the fort's first commander, John Whistler in 1810. The following year, Heald traveled back to Fort Wayne in order to marry Rebecca Wells and returned to the fort with his new wife.

On August 9, Heald received orders from his superior officer, General William Hull to evacuate the troops from Fort Dearborn, leaving all the supplies at the fort. Heald waited until August 14 to leave the fort, when a group of Miami Indians led by his wife's uncle, Captain William Wells, arrived from Fort Wayne to provide assistance. On August 25, a band of Potawatomi attacked the column, killing many civilians and soldiers. Heald and his wife were both wounded, Heald being shot through the hips.

The Healds made their way across Lake Michigan and eventually arrived at Fort Detroit, then in British hands, where they surrendered. The British transported them to Buffalo, New York, where they were ransomed back to the Americans. Heald was promoted to major and given a disability discharge and a pension. The couple returned to Fort Wayne.

In 1817, the Healds moved to O'Fallon, Missouri and purchased Fort Zumwalt. They had three children, Mary, Darius and Margaret. Heald Square in Chicago is named after Nathan Heald.