The eldest of Nathan and Rachel Hart’s four children, Samuel Nathan Hart was born in Charleston in 1808. Samuel’s father was a prominent merchant, served as constable of Charleston in 1821, and active member of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim. There, he fought against reformers in the congregation who wanted to install an organ in the synagogue.

Samuel followed his father into business. In the late 1830s, he married Isabel Lazarus, daughter of Miriam Hart and Jacob Lazarus, Jr. They had ten children.