Nathan Nathans was born in England and moved to Charleston before he was twenty. He married Sarah N. Hertz, and they had eight children. He became a successful merchant and planter and served as parnass of Beth Elohim. He left the congregation with a group who seceded in 1840 when the congregation’s new building included an organ. HE helped establish the new orthodox congregation of Shearith Israel. At the time of his death, his will included eighteen buildings in Charleston.