Nathan Storrs was born in Mansfield, Connecticut in 1768. Nathan's family engaged in jewelry making, silver-smithing, and other related activities.

It is currently thought that Nathan was trained as a clockmaker by Jacob Sargeant. Nathan first advertises in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1791 and that he is open for business and is lately from New York. Interestingly, the town of Northampton wasn't very welcoming to newcomers when Nathan arrived. Northampton ordered Nathan and the others to leave town, which some on the list apparently did. Nathan stayed, and became a leading citizen.

In 1792, he forms a partnership with Samuel Stiles as Stiles & Storrs. This partnership quickly dissolves and in 1792 and Nathan joins Jediidah Baldwin in business as Baldwin & Storrs. This partnership lasts until 1793 when Baldwin moves to Hanover, NH.

Nathan married the sister of the President of Yale University.

In 1827, Storrs & Cook (Benjamin F. Cook) form a partnership that lasts until 1833. In 1829, they open an additional outlet in Amherst, Massachusetts. Nathan retires in 1833 and dies in 1839 due to poor health.

Clockmaking was Nathan's primary business. But like many clockmakers, Nathan engaged in a broad range of related activities, like silversmithing.

Nathan Storrs had perhaps the broadest range of engraving styles of any Early American engraver - from very formal European style to a wonderfully contemporary look. Without his name on the compasses you would never guess that the compasses were engraved by the same person. All beautifully done, however.