John Newton

John Newton (1725-1807)
John Newton was a tough sailor, converted to Christ and became one of the great early leaders of the evangelical revival in England.
For most of his life he captained a slave-trader, plying its evil trade back and forth across the Atlantic, a hardened and rugged seaman, about as far from the Lord as one could get. In 1748 his ship floundered off Ireland. All seemed lost and Newton fell to his knees in prayer for deliverance. That experience set Newton on the road to a living faith in Jesus.
Newton had everything against him, class, upbringing, lack of formal education and an enthusiasm for the truths of the gospel. He was repeatedly denied ordination. Eventually he became Rector of Olney in Buckinghamshire where he wrote many great hymns including, Amazing Grace, How sweet the name of Jesus sounds and Glorious things of thee are spoken. In 1780 Newton moved to the City of London and, alongside Wilberforce was prominent in the campaign against the slave-trade.