Definition:

Real Name: Nicholas Joseph Fury
Occupation: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate)
Identity: Publicly known
Legal Status: Citizen of the United States with no criminal record
Place of Birth: New York City
Group Affiliation: S.H.I.E.L.D.; formerly the U.S. Army and the Central Intelligence Agency
Base of Operations: S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, apartment in Manhattan
First Appearance: SEARGENT FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS #1

History: Nick Fury, the eldest of three children born to an American pilot who died in battle during the final year of World War I, grew up in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. He enlisted in the Army with the start of American involvement in World War II, rising quickly to the rank of sergeant. In the European Theater of operations, Fury led the Howling Commandos, a band of soldiers made famous by their foolhardy but brave combat style.

Fury remained on active duty through the Korean War, during which the Howlers were reunited for a special mission that garnered Fury a battlefield commission and promotion to second lieutenant. Fury spied for the French government in Viet Nam in the 1950s, earning him the rank of colonel and eventually a full-time appointment to the CIA. After several years with the CIA, he became director of the newly organized international-espionage organization S.H.I.E.L.D.

Fury's leadership saw the organization through countless crises and was instrumental in thwarting major threats to world freedom. As S.H.I.E.L.D. grew to the vast international network it is today, regional directors and subversives within the organization began to undertake questionable operations without Fury's authorization or knowledge. Former agent Barbara Morse, a.k.a. Mockingbird, was pivotal in revealing to Fury the corruption within S.H.I.E.L.D.

Fury has since returned to his roots as a field operative performing undercover work.

Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 225 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown with graying temples

Abilities: Nick Fury has trained as a paratrooper, Ranger, demolitions expert and vehicle specialist. He holds an unlimited-tonnage, all-seas license as a commander of ocean-going vessels. Fury has completed Green and Black Beret Special Forces training, and has been an agent of the OSS (Office of Special Services) and a liaison of the M5 (British Secret Intelligence). He is a seasoned unarmed- and armed-combat expert, was a heavyweight boxer in the Army, and holds a black belt in Tae Kwan Do and a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu. Fury has honed his fighting skills sparring with Captain America, perhaps the world's finest unarmed-combat expert. Fury ingests the Infinity Formula annually, slowing the process of aging in his body.

Source: Marvel Directory