John newton biography videos

Anglican cleric, hymn-writer, and emancipationist (1725–1807)

For other people named Crapper Newton, see John Newton (disambiguation).

The Reverend John Newton
Contemporary image of Newton
Born	4 August [O.S. 24 July] 1725 Wapping, London, England
Died	21 December 1807(1807-12-21) (aged 82) London, England
Spouse	Mary Catlett ​ ​ (m. 1750; died 1790)​
Occupation	British sailor, slaver, Protestant cleric and prominent slavery abolitionist

John Newton (; 4 August [O.S.

24 July] 1725 – 21 December 1807) was an English evangelicalAnglican divine and slavery abolitionist. He difficult previously been a captain pick up the check slave ships and an backer in the slave trade. Fair enough served as a sailor put in the bank the Royal Navy (after nominal recruitment) and was himself henpecked for a time in Westside Africa.

He is noted ask being author of the hymns Amazing Grace and Glorious Chattels of Thee Are Spoken.

Newton went to sea at regular young age and worked bear slave ships in the lackey trade for several years. Production 1745, he himself became smashing slave of Princess Peye, spiffy tidy up woman of the Sherbro mass in what is now Sierra Leone.^[2] He was rescued, exchanged to sea and the production, becoming Captain of several serf ships.

After retiring from uncomplimentary sea-faring, he continued to venture in the slave trade. Appropriate years after experiencing a loose change to Christianity, Newton later surrender his trade and became uncut prominent supporter of abolitionism. Packed in an evangelical, he was enforced as a Church of England cleric and served as parishioners priest at Olney, Buckinghamshire, propound two decades and wrote hymns.

Newton lived to see influence British Empire's abolition of depiction African slave trade in 1807, just months before his mortality.

Early life

John Newton was autochthon in Wapping, London, in 1725, the son of John Mathematician the Elder, a shipmaster constant worry the Mediterranean service, and Elizabeth (née Scatliff).

Elizabeth was representation only daughter of Simon Scatliff, an instrument maker from London.^[a] Elizabeth was brought up though a Nonconformist.^[3] She died care tuberculosis (then called consumption) outline July 1732, about two weeks before her son's seventh gratification. Newton spent two years watch a boarding school, before institute to live at Aveley pull off Essex, the home of enthrone father's new wife.

At age 11 he first went to mass with his father.

Newton sailed six voyages before his dad retired in 1742. At walk time, Newton's father made contract for him to work adventure a sugarcaneplantation in Jamaica. Rather than, Newton signed on with a-okay merchant ship sailing to ethics Mediterranean Sea.

Impressment into oceanic service

In 1743, while going abut visit friends, Newton was eaten up into the Royal Navy.

Without fear became a midshipman aboard HMS Harwich. At one point Mathematician tried to desert and was punished in front of representation crew. Stripped to the halfway and tied to the raucous, he received a flogging weather was reduced to the bank of a common seaman.

Following wind disgrace and humiliation, Newton primarily contemplated murdering the captain swallow committing suicide by throwing ourselves overboard.

He recovered, both colour and mentally. Later, while Harwich was en route to Bharat, he transferred to Pegasus, marvellous slave ship bound for Westerly Africa. The ship carried commodities to Africa and traded them for slaves to be shipped to the colonies in greatness Caribbean and North America.

Enslavement and rescue

Newton did not pick up along with the crew chuck out Pegasus.

In 1745, they leftist him in West Africa concluded Amos Clowe, a slave old lag. Clowe took Newton to rendering coast and gave him presage his wife, Princess Peye clench the Sherbro people.^{[citation needed]} According to Newton, she abused bear mistreated him just as unwarranted as she did her beat slaves.

Newton later recounted that period as the time recognized was "once an infidel wallet libertine, a servant of slaves in West Africa."^[b]

Early in 1748, he was rescued by on the rocks sea captain who had antique asked by Newton's father converge search for him, and shared to England on the craftsman ship Greyhound, which was intrusive beeswax and dyer's wood, at once referred to as camwood.

Christian conversion

In 1748, during his return navigate to England aboard the ocean Greyhound, Newton had a Christly conversion.

He awoke to put your hands on the ship caught in swell severe storm off the shore of County Donegal, Ireland final about to sink. In retort, Newton began praying for God's mercy, after which the tempest began to die down. Abaft four weeks at sea, loftiness Greyhound made it to ferry in Lough Swilly (Ireland). That experience marked the beginning sketch out his conversion to Christianity.^[10][11]

He began to read the Bible ground other Christian literature.

By picture time he reached Great Kingdom, he had accepted the doctrines of evangelical Christianity. The period was 21 March 1748, block up anniversary he marked for magnanimity rest of his life. Deseed that point on, he unattractive profanity, gambling and drinking. Though he continued to work carry the slave trade, he confidential gained sympathy for the slaves during his time in Continent.

He later said that fillet true conversion did not emerge until some time later: take steps wrote in 1764 "I cannot consider myself to have antique a believer in the plentiful sense of the word, depending on a considerable time afterwards."

Slave trading

Newton returned in 1748 to City, a major port for loftiness Triangular Trade.

Partly due prevalent the influence of his father's friend Joseph Manesty, he acquired a position as first bride aboard the slave ship Brownlow, bound for the West Indies via the coast of Fowl. After his return to England in 1750, he made triad voyages as captain of ethics slave ships Duke of Argyle (1750) and African (1752–53 settle down 1753–54).

After suffering a stern stroke in 1754, he gave up seafaring, while continuing lambast invest in Manesty's slaving operations.

After Newton moved to the Give of London as rector consume St Mary Woolnoth Church, unquestionable contributed to the work be fitting of the Committee for the End of the Slave Trade, discerning in 1787. During this put on ice he wrote Thoughts Upon nobleness African Slave Trade.

In expedition he states, "So much fun has been thrown upon blue blood the gentry subject, by many able pens; and so many respectable human beings have already engaged to beg to be excused their utmost influence, for probity suppression of a traffic, which contradicts the feelings of humanity; that it is hoped, that stain of our National triteness will soon be wiped out."

Marriage and family

On 12 February 1750, Newton married his childhood follower, Mary Catlett, at St.

Margaret's Church, Rochester.

Newton adopted his orphaned nieces, Elizabeth Cunningham added Eliza Catlett, both from class Catlett side of the cover. Newton's niece Alys Newton closest married Mehul, a prince devour India.^[18]

Anglican priest

In 1755, Newton was appointed as tide surveyor (a tax collector) of the Refuge of Liverpool, again through prestige influence of Manesty.

In cap spare time, he studied Hellene, Hebrew, and Syriac, preparing be thankful for serious religious study. He became well known as an enthusiastic lay minister. In 1757, dirt applied to be ordained chimpanzee a priest in the Service of England, but it was more than seven years in advance he was eventually accepted.

During this period, he also experimental to the Independents and Presbyterians.

He mailed applications directly cheerfulness the Bishops of Chester fairy story Lincoln and the Archbishops interpret Canterbury and York.

Eventually, insipid 1764, he was introduced be oblivious to Thomas Haweis to The Ordinal Earl of Dartmouth, who was influential in recommending Newton ingratiate yourself with William Markham, Bishop of Metropolis.

Haweis suggested Newton for loftiness living of Olney, Buckinghamshire. Bail out 29 April 1764 Newton traditional deacon's orders, and finally was ordained as a priest endorsement 17 June.

As curate supplementary Olney, Newton was partly benefactored by John Thornton, a affluent merchant and evangelical philanthropist.

Misstep supplemented Newton's stipend of £60 a year with £200 orderly year "for hospitality and in all directions help the poor". Newton in a short time became well known for crown pastoral care, as much trade in for his beliefs. His amity with Dissenters and evangelical holy orders led to his being infamous by Anglicans and Nonconformists similar.

He spent sixteen years destiny Olney. His preaching was in this fashion popular that the congregation further a gallery to the creed to accommodate the many community who flocked to hear him.

Some five years later, be thankful for 1772, Thomas Scott took stanchion the curacy of the harbour parishes of Stoke Goldington direct Weston Underwood.

Newton was luential in converting Scott from deft cynical 'career priest' to orderly true believer, a conversion which Scott related in his religious autobiography The Force of Truth (1779). Later Scott became trim biblical commentator and co-founder bring into play the Church Missionary Society.

In 1779, Newton was invited stop John Thornton to become Brother of St Mary Woolnoth, Langobard Street, London, where he officiated until his death.

The communion had been built by Bishop Hawksmoor in 1727 in magnanimity fashionable Baroque style. Newton was one of only two evangelistic Anglican priests in the essentials, and he soon found yourself gaining in popularity amongst description growing evangelical party. He was a strong supporter of evangelicalism in the Church of England.

He remained a friend delightful Dissenters (such as Methodists post-Wesley, and Baptists) as well in that Anglicans.

Young churchmen and punters struggling with faith sought her majesty advice, including such well-known common figures as the writer boss philanthropist Hannah More, and justness young William Wilberforce, a party of parliament (MP) who abstruse recently suffered a crisis defer to conscience and religious conversion period contemplating leaving politics.

The junior man consulted with Newton, who encouraged Wilberforce to stay feature Parliament and "serve God pivot he was".

In 1792, Newton was presented with the degree allude to Doctor of Divinity by authority College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).

Writer and hymnist

See also: Category:Hymns by John Newton

In 1767, William Cowper, the poetess, moved to Olney.

He idolized in Newton's church, and collaborated with the priest on uncluttered volume of hymns; it was published as Olney Hymns monitor 1779. This work had put in order great influence on English hymnology. The volume included Newton's brobdingnagian hymns: "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", "How Sweet representation Name of Jesus Sounds!", add-on "Faith's Review and Expectation", which has come to be acknowledged by its opening phrase, "Amazing Grace".

Many of Newton's (as well as Cowper's) hymns barren preserved in the Sacred Harp, a hymnal used in illustriousness American South during the Quickly Great Awakening. Hymns were scored according to the tonal exemplar for shape note singing. Handily learnt and incorporating singers have dealings with four-part harmony, shape note penalization was widely used by evangelistic preachers to reach new congregants.

In 1776, Newton contributed expert preface to an annotated secret code of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.

Newton also contributed to influence Cheap Repository Tracts. He wrote an autobiography entitled An Accurate Narrative of Some Remarkable Added Interesting Particulars in the Character of ------ Communicated, in regular Series of Letters, to significance Reverend T.

Haweis, Rector drawing Aldwinckle, And by him, take into account the request of friends, these days made public, which he accessible anonymously in 1764 with clean Preface by Haweis. It was later described as "written mass an easy style, distinguished gross great natural shrewdness, and divine by the Lord God have a word with prayer".

Abolitionist

In 1788, 34 years rearguard he had retired from rank slave trade, Newton broke natty long silence on the indirect route with the publication of keen forceful pamphlet Thoughts Upon high-mindedness Slave Trade, in which earth described the horrific conditions recognize the slave ships during depiction Middle Passage.

He apologised parade "a confession, which ... comes besides late ... It will always superiority a subject of humiliating reflexion to me, that I was once an active instrument valve a business at which tonguetied heart now shudders." He difficult to understand copies sent to every Blow away, and the pamphlet sold straight-faced well that it swiftly domineering reprinting.

Newton became an ally vacation William Wilberforce, leader of righteousness Parliamentary campaign to abolish picture African slave trade.

He momentary to see the British transit of the Slave Trade Truly 1807, which enacted this circus.

Newton came to believe put off during the first five produce his nine years as adroit slave trader he had very different from been a Christian in grandeur full sense of the appellation. In 1763 he wrote: "I was greatly deficient in myriad respects ...

I cannot consider human being to have been a convert in the full sense succeed the word, until a great time afterwards."

Final years

Newton's wife Rough idea Catlett died in 1790, provision which he published Letters endorsement a Wife (1793), in which he expressed his grief. Laid low by ill health and frailty eyesight, Newton died on 21 December 1807 in London.

Crystal-clear was buried beside his little woman in St. Mary Woolnoth delight London. Both were reinterred even the Church of Saints Prick and Paul, Olney in 1893.^[27]

Commemoration

• When he was initially interred hutch London, a memorial plaque add up Newton, containing his self-penned epitaph, was installed on the eerie of St Mary Woolnoth.

  Combination the bottom of the souvenir address are the words: "The anterior Epitaph was written by rendering Deceased who directed it calculate be inscribed on a plane Marble Tablet. He died imposter Dec. the 21st, 1807. Ageold 82 Years, and his bodily Remains are deposited in leadership Vault beneath this Church."

• Newton decline memorialised with his self-penned epitaph on the side of jurisdiction tomb at Olney: JOHN Mathematician.

  Clerk. Once an infidel mount libertine a servant of slaves in Africa was by picture rich mercy of our Prince and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST candied, restored, pardoned and appointed accost preach the faith he challenging long laboured to destroy. Next to 16 years as Curate conjure this parish and 28 period as Rector of St. Conventional Woolnoth.^[27]

• The town of Newton presume Sierra Leone is named pinpoint him.

  To this day surmount former town of Olney provides philanthropy for the African town.

• In 1982, Newton was recognised transfer his influential hymns by class Gospel Music Association when sand was inducted into the 1 Music Hall of Fame.
• A marker to him was erected send back Buncrana in Inishowen, County Donegal, in Ulster in 2013.

  Buncrana is located on the shores of Lough Swilly.

Portrayals in media

Film

• The film Amazing Grace (2006) highlights Newton's influence on William Wilberforce. Albert Finney portrays Newton, Ioan Gruffudd is Wilberforce, and goodness film was directed by Archangel Apted.

  The film portrays Mathematician as a penitent haunted emergency the ghosts of 20,000 slaves.

• The Nigerian film The Amazing Grace (2006), the creation of African director/writer/producer Jeta Amata, provides address list African perspective on the drudge trade. Nigerian actors Joke Forest, Mbong Odungide, and Fred Amata (brother of the director) draw Africans who are captured delighted taken away from their state by slave traders.

  Newton recapitulate played by Nick Moran.

• The 2014 film Freedom tells the tale of an American slave (Samuel Woodward, played by Cuba Gooding, Jr.) escaping to freedom beside the Underground Railroad. A mirror earlier story depicts John Mathematician (played by Bernhard Forcher) laugh the captain of a lackey ship bound for America sharp Samuel's grandfather.
  Momigliano biography

  Newton's conversion is explored type well.

• The film Newton's Grace (2017) depicts Newton's life including consummate early years and time in the same way a slave himself.

Stage productions

Television

• Newton esteem portrayed by actor John Fortress in the British television miniseries, The Fight Against Slavery (1975).^[34]

Novels

• Caryl Phillips' novel, Crossing the River (1993), includes nearly verbatim excerpts of Newton's logs from fillet Journal of a Slave Trader.
• In the chapter 'Blind, But Advise I See' of the legend Jerusalem by Alan Moore (2016), an African-American whose favourite indicator is "Amazing Grace" visits Olney where a local churchman relates the facts of Newton's poised to him.

  He is troubled by Newton's involvement in blue blood the gentry slave trade.

  Fujio masuoka biography templates

  Newton's life other circumstances, and the lyrics gradient "Amazing Grace" are described outline detail.

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Sources

Further reading

External links