John Newton

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John Newton is one of the most important and influential men of the 18th century. His famous conversion during a storm at sea lead to his new role as a social reformer and key figure in the abolition of slavery. In this book, Jonathan Aitken discovers the man, his motivation and beliefs.

In the popular imagination John Newton (1725 – 1807) is best known as the author of the celebrated hymn Amazing Grace. But he also had one of the most colourful and influential lives in the religion and politics of the 18th century. In his youth he was a slave trader and a slave ship captain. His early adventures included being flogged as a deserter from the Royal Navy and imprisoned as a white slave to an African slave master. During a storm at sea he was converted and became an ordained clergyman.

The two closest friendships of his life were with William Cowper the poet and William Wilberforce the abolitionist MP. With Cowper he wrote many hymns including Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken, How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds and Amazing Grace. Newton became and remains a hero of the Evangelical revival. He was a formative influence on Charles Simeon and on William Wilberforce with whom he campaigned vigorously for the abolition of slavery. 'Without Newton there would have been no William Wilberforce and the slave trade would have continued for many more generations.' But his influence was very wide indeed.