Israel Pemberton was born on May 10, 1715 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States. He was the third of the ten children of Israel and Rachel (Read) Pemberton and a descendant of Ralph Pemberton who emigrated to Pennsylvania from Lancashire, England, in 1682. James and John Pemberton were his brothers. His father was a successful merchant and a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly.
Israel Pemberton received a thorough education in Friends' schools. At that of Thomas Makin, where Pastorius was a master, trouble arose between Pastorius and the boy, which resulted in Israel's being so severely punished that he was placed in another school.
His education completed, Israel Pemberton entered the mercantile business with his father, James Logan, and John Reynell. He was able to keep up a home in the city, two country homes on the Schuylkill, and one in New Jersey. He was interested in various benevolent organizations. When the Pennsylvania Hospital was incorporated in February 1751 he was elected a manager, a position which he filled for twenty-eight years, and he contributed generously to its support. The largest share of his time and money, however, went to the Friendly Association for Regaining and Preserving Peace with the Indians by Pacific Measures, sponsored by the Philadelphia Meeting to keep the Delawares and Shawnees from joining the French in 1756. Pemberton was a trustee and an active member.
At an early age, Israel Pemberton took an interest in public affairs and in 1739 he was arrested for criticizing Thomas Penn, the lieutenant-governor of the province. He was released on bail and eventually the case was dropped. In 1750 he was elected to his father's seat in the Assembly for the county of Philadelphia. The following year he was appointed member of the board of managers for the State House and grounds. Israel Pemberton was active in the movement to force the Proprietors to pay a fair share of taxes and signed the non-importation agreement at the time of the Stamp Act, though in general he strongly urged a policy of peace.
In 1756 Israel Pemberton resigned from the Assembly because of his opposition to the Indian War, but he was returned ten years later. During the first Continental Congress the Massachusetts delegation were invited by the Friends to attend a meeting at Carpenter's Hall. Pemberton addressed them, urging them to grant liberty of conscience to the Friends and Baptists in their province. This incident is said to be one of the chief reasons for John Adams' animosity toward the Quakers. Holding to his religious convictions, Pemberton was opposed to the Revolution. With others of his faith he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or to promise not to give aid to the enemy. Consequently he and nineteen others were arrested early in September 1777 and imprisoned in the Free Masons' Lodge without trial. Their homes were searched and their papers seized. On the eleventh of September they were taken by wagon to Winchester, Virginia, where they were held until April of the next year.
Israel Pemberton's health was undermined during his imprisonment, causing his death one year later on April 22, 1779.
Israel Pemberton was a member of the American Philosophical Society.
On March 30, 1737 Israel Pemberton married Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Stacy) Kirkbride. She died in 1746 and on December 10, 1747, he married Mary, the daughter of Nathan and Mary (Ewer) Stanbury and the widow of Robert Jordan and Capt. Richard Hill.
