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He was 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a sallow complexion, short dark brown hair with a heavy full beard, rawboned, and tattooed with a star on his left breast.

Born in Philadelphia, he appears to have lived in Nantucket, RI. He appears to have been a sailor during the American Revolution. On Oct 15, 1781, he was aboard the 'Jason', commanded by Capt. Charles Hamilton, which was captured by the 'Monsieur', a British ship. He was one of 76 crewmembers taken prisoner. He is still recorded as being a prisoner in Apr 1782. But in keeping with British policy, prisoners-of-war were granted pardons if they would enlist in the British military, and it appears that Martin ultimately took advantage of this policy. He was an experienced seaman prior to joining the crew of the Bounty in 1787.

While the Bounty was on Tahiti, Martin appears to have been overzealous in retrieving a piece of iron that had been stolen from him. Perhaps he knew full well the consequences of loss of Bounty implements. In any case, he struck the man he suspected of the theft. For this offense, he received 24 lashes, reduced to 19 on the plea of Tahitian friends.

Overhearing Christian approach Quintal about the mutiny, he though it a capital ideal and willingly assumed responsibility for raising a party. But his later actions, as reported by Bligh, seem to indicate that his heart was not in the action. Martin had been posted as Bligh's guard, and seemed to have an inclination to assist him in whatever way he could, including furnishing him a drink. But the other mutineers, noting their looks at one another, removed him from that duty. Martin then tried to leave the ship in a small boat, but yielded to the threats of the others to return. Perhaps he was counting more on a takeover of the ship by Christian, and an arrest of Bligh, with the ship returning to England.

On the sail from Tahiti to Pitcairn, Martin was coupled with Obuarei, but by the time the ship reached that lonely shore, his consort was Jenny, and it is with her he lived his short life on Pitcairn. They had no children.

For more information on Isaac Martin:

A Most Merry and Illustrated History of Isaac Martin: The Philadelphian on the Bounty (by Sue Dibble, May 2001)