Nathaneal Greene was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, on August 7, 1742. Nathaneal Greene was born into a Quaker family. In 1770, he moved to Coventry, Connecticut to manage his father's forge.

Nathaneal Greene served in many assemblies throughout his military career. From 1770 to 1772, he served in the Rhode Island Assembly. He also served in the Rhode Island Assembly again in 1775. In 1773, Nathaneal Greene was expelled from the Quaker Assembly in 1773 because he attended a local militia parade.

Nathaneal Greene attended Yale University where he got a good education from a professor, and future President, of Yale College Ezra Stiles.

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In 1776, Nathaneal Greene participated in the defense of New York City. He was a general in the defense of New York, but he was soon promoted to Major General in 1776. In December of 1776, he had a very important role in General Washington's surprise attack on Trenton. Major General Nathaneal Greene also worked closely with General Washington in 1777-78 at Morristown, Brandywine, Germantown, Valley Forge, and Monmouth.

In 1778, Nathaneal Greene was appointed by General Washington to be a Quartermaster General. This is what Nathaneal Greene said about his rank:"Nobody ever heard of a quarter Master in History." Nathaneal Greene served as Quartermaster General until 1780. From 1780 to 1783, he served as commander of the Southern Department.

After he retired to a small plantation in Georgia that had been given to him, Nathaneal Greene died in 1786.