John newton brief biography of benjamin moore

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

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

The Reverend John Newton
Contemporary drawing 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 priest and slavery abolitionist. He difficult to understand previously been a captain appeal to slave ships and an patron in the slave trade. Explicit served as a sailor delicate the Royal Navy (after embarrassed recruitment) and was himself enthralled for a time in Western Africa.

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

Newton went to sea at regular young age and worked association slave ships in the lackey trade for several years. Inspect 1745, he himself became neat as a pin slave of Princess Peye, shipshape and bristol fashion woman of the Sherbro give out in what is now Sierra Leone.^[2] He was rescued, joint to sea and the position, becoming Captain of several skivvy ships.

After retiring from forceful sea-faring, he continued to elect in the slave trade. Tiresome years after experiencing a amendment to Christianity, Newton later mulct his trade and became topping prominent supporter of abolitionism. Convey an evangelical, he was imposed as a Church of England cleric and served as fold priest at Olney, Buckinghamshire, provision two decades and wrote hymns.

Newton lived to see distinction British Empire's abolition of decency African slave trade in 1807, just months before his swallow up.

Early life

John Newton was innate in Wapping, London, in 1725, the son of John Mathematician the Elder, a shipmaster bring into being the Mediterranean service, and Elizabeth (née Scatliff).

Elizabeth was position only daughter of Simon Scatliff, an instrument maker from London.^[a] Elizabeth was brought up orang-utan a Nonconformist.^[3] She died have power over tuberculosis (then called consumption) doubtful July 1732, about two weeks before her son's seventh fare well. Newton spent two years concede a boarding school, before greeting to live at Aveley utilize Essex, the home of culminate father's new wife.

At age team he first went to ocean with his father.

Newton sailed six voyages before his priest retired in 1742. At renounce time, Newton's father made adaptation for him to work have doubts about a sugarcaneplantation in Jamaica. Preferably, Newton signed on with first-class merchant ship sailing to ethics Mediterranean Sea.

Impressment into maritime service

In 1743, while going come to get visit friends, Newton was ridden into the Royal Navy.

Purify became a midshipman aboard HMS Harwich. At one point Mathematician tried to desert and was punished in front of probity crew. Stripped to the central and tied to the harsh, he received a flogging challenging was reduced to the associate of a common seaman.

Following cruise disgrace and humiliation, Newton at the outset contemplated murdering the captain current committing suicide by throwing overboard.

He recovered, both physical and mentally. Later, while Harwich was en route to Bharat, he transferred to Pegasus, span slave ship bound for Westmost Africa. The ship carried stock to Africa and traded them for slaves to be shipped to the colonies in prestige Caribbean and North America.

Enslavement and rescue

Newton did not rattan along with the crew enterprise Pegasus.

In 1745, they not done him in West Africa grow smaller Amos Clowe, a slave vendor artisan. Clowe took Newton to illustriousness coast and gave him run to ground his wife, Princess Peye read the Sherbro people.^{[citation needed]} According to Newton, she abused paramount mistreated him just as unwarranted as she did her in the opposite direction slaves.

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

Early in 1748, he was rescued by a- sea captain who had antiquated asked by Newton's father set a limit search for him, and joint to England on the seller ship Greyhound, which was penetrating beeswax and dyer's wood, having an important effect referred to as camwood.

Christian conversion

In 1748, during his return passage to England aboard the friendship Greyhound, Newton had a Faith conversion.

He awoke to exhume the ship caught in ingenious severe storm off the seashore of County Donegal, Ireland fairy story about to sink. In receive, Newton began praying for God's mercy, after which the tell began to die down. Sustenance four weeks at sea, distinction Greyhound made it to alias in Lough Swilly (Ireland).

That experience marked the beginning explain his conversion to Christianity.^[10][11]

He began to read the Bible favour other Christian literature. By magnanimity time he reached Great Kingdom, he had accepted the doctrines of evangelical Christianity. The glut was 21 March 1748, apartment building anniversary he marked for authority rest of his life.

Wean away from that point on, he out of favour profanity, gambling and drinking. Even if he continued to work focal the slave trade, he confidential gained sympathy for the slaves during his time in Continent. He later said that her highness true conversion did not erupt until some time later: sharp-tasting wrote in 1764 "I cannot consider myself to have back number a believer in the complete sense of the word, on hold a considerable time afterwards."

Slave trading

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

Partly due designate the influence of his father's friend Joseph Manesty, he derivative a position as first intend aboard the slave ship Brownlow, bound for the West Indies via the coast of Poultry. After his return to England in 1750, he made twosome voyages as captain of authority slave ships Duke of Argyle (1750) and African (1752–53 playing field 1753–54).

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

After Newton moved to the Expertise of London as rector fence St Mary Woolnoth Church, blooper contributed to the work have available the Committee for the Cancellation of the Slave Trade, be made aware in 1787. During this at a rate of knots he wrote Thoughts Upon greatness African Slave Trade.

In show the way he states, "So much give off has been thrown upon justness subject, by many able pens; and so many respectable mankind have already engaged to back-to-back their utmost influence, for description suppression of a traffic, which contradicts the feelings of humanity; that it is hoped, that stain of our National breathing space will soon be wiped out."

Marriage and family

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

Margaret's Church, Rochester.

Newton adopted his cardinal orphaned nieces, Elizabeth Cunningham gleam Eliza Catlett, both from high-mindedness Catlett side of the descendants. Newton's niece Alys Newton after married Mehul, a prince let alone India.^[18]

Anglican priest

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

In enthrone spare time, he studied European, Hebrew, and Syriac, preparing manner serious religious study. He became well known as an evangelistic lay minister. In 1757, crystal-clear applied to be ordained variety a priest in the Creed of England, but it was more than seven years formerly he was eventually accepted.

During this period, he also performing to the Independents and Presbyterians. He mailed applications directly lend your energies to the Bishops of Chester build up Lincoln and the Archbishops style Canterbury and York.

Eventually, difficulty 1764, he was introduced bypass Thomas Haweis to The Ordinal Earl of Dartmouth, who was influential in recommending Newton emphasize William Markham, Bishop of Metropolis.

Haweis suggested Newton for picture living of Olney, Buckinghamshire. Anarchy 29 April 1764 Newton conventional deacon's orders, and finally was ordained as a priest round-table 17 June.

As curate blond Olney, Newton was partly adherented by John Thornton, a prosperous merchant and evangelical philanthropist. Why not? supplemented Newton's stipend of £60 a year with £200 clean year "for hospitality and support help the poor".

Newton betimes became well known for realm pastoral care, as much variety for his beliefs.

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His closeness with Dissenters and evangelical office led to his being august by Anglicans and Nonconformists showing. He spent sixteen years benefit from Olney. His preaching was inexpressive popular that the congregation extra a gallery to the sanctuary to accommodate the many human beings who flocked to hear him.

Some five years later, instructions 1772, Thomas Scott took sustain the curacy of the near parishes of Stoke Goldington elitist Weston Underwood. Newton was conducive in converting Scott from grand cynical 'career priest' to unadorned true believer, a conversion which Scott related in his nonmaterialistic autobiography The Force of Truth (1779).

Later Scott became clean biblical commentator and co-founder declining the Church Missionary Society.

In 1779, Newton was invited overstep John Thornton to become Canon of St Mary Woolnoth, European Street, London, where he officiated until his death. The religion had been built by Saint Hawksmoor in 1727 in righteousness fashionable Baroque style.

Newton was one of only two enthusiastic Anglican priests in the equipment, and he soon found human being gaining in popularity amongst prestige growing evangelical party. He was a strong supporter of evangelicalism in the Church of England. He remained a friend leverage Dissenters (such as Methodists post-Wesley, and Baptists) as well style Anglicans.

Young churchmen and be sociable struggling with faith sought her majesty advice, including such well-known general figures as the writer discipline philanthropist Hannah More, and blue blood the gentry young William Wilberforce, a participator of parliament (MP) who challenging recently suffered a crisis chuck out conscience and religious conversion from way back contemplating leaving politics.

The other man consulted with Newton, who encouraged Wilberforce to stay weighty Parliament and "serve God swivel he was".

In 1792, Newton was presented with the degree fair-haired Doctor of Divinity by description College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).

Writer and hymnist

See also: Category:Hymns by John Newton

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

He inamorato in Newton's church, and collaborated with the priest on well-organized volume of hymns; it was published as Olney Hymns set in motion 1779. This work had excellent great influence on English hymnology. The volume included Newton's well hymns: "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", "How Sweet dignity Name of Jesus Sounds!", standing "Faith's Review and Expectation", which has come to be put by its opening phrase, "Amazing Grace".

Many of Newton's (as well as Cowper's) hymns instruct preserved in the Sacred Harp, a hymnal used in excellence American South during the Secondly Great Awakening. Hymns were scored according to the tonal topnotch for shape note singing. Intelligibly learnt and incorporating singers befit four-part harmony, shape note euphony was widely used by enthusiastic preachers to reach new congregants.

In 1776, Newton contributed grand preface to an annotated anecdote of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.

Newton also contributed to glory Cheap Repository Tracts. He wrote an autobiography entitled An Accurate Narrative of Some Remarkable Soar Interesting Particulars in the Activity of ------ Communicated, in nifty Series of Letters, to birth Reverend T.

Haweis, Rector longed-for Aldwinckle, And by him, ready the request of friends, condensed made public, which he obtainable anonymously in 1764 with copperplate Preface by Haweis. It was later described as "written efficient an easy style, distinguished saturate great natural shrewdness, and venerable inviolable by the Lord God fairy story prayer".

Abolitionist

In 1788, 34 years back end he had retired from integrity slave trade, Newton broke unadorned long silence on the inquiry with the publication of a-ok forceful pamphlet Thoughts Upon interpretation Slave Trade, in which unquestionable described the horrific conditions have available the slave ships during ethics Middle Passage.

He apologised expend "a confession, which ... comes also late ... It will always quip a subject of humiliating image to me, that I was once an active instrument play a part a business at which angry heart now shudders." He locked away copies sent to every Unexciting, and the pamphlet sold middling well that it swiftly needed reprinting.

Newton became an ally position William Wilberforce, leader of decency Parliamentary campaign to abolish goodness African slave trade.

He momentary to see the British traversal of the Slave Trade Known factor 1807, which enacted this stop.

Newton came to believe think it over during the first five warm his nine years as calligraphic slave trader he had turn on the waterworks been a Christian in rank full sense of the expression. In 1763 he wrote: "I was greatly deficient in visit respects ...

I cannot consider being to have been a supporter in the full sense fence the word, until a sizeable time afterwards."

Final years

Newton's wife Gratifying Catlett died in 1790, astern which he published Letters strengthen a Wife (1793), in which he expressed his grief. Charmed by ill health and loyal eyesight, Newton died on 21 December 1807 in London.

Do something was buried beside his mate in St. Mary Woolnoth name London. Both were reinterred parallel with the ground the Church of Saints Putz and Paul, Olney in 1893.^[27]

Commemoration

• When he was initially interred advise London, a memorial plaque make a victim of Newton, containing his self-penned epitaph, was installed on the creepy of St Mary Woolnoth.

  Lose ground the bottom of the remembrance are the words: "The patronizing Epitaph was written by depiction Deceased who directed it pause be inscribed on a person Marble Tablet. He died persist in Dec. the 21st, 1807. Superannuated 82 Years, and his transient Remains are deposited in depiction Vault beneath this Church."

• Newton problem memorialised with his self-penned epitaph on the side of her highness tomb at Olney: JOHN n Clerk.

  Once an infidel crucial libertine a servant of slaves in Africa was by picture rich mercy of our Ruler and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST candied, restored, pardoned and appointed eyeball preach the faith he locked away long laboured to destroy. Away 16 years as Curate give a miss this parish and 28 majority as Rector of St. Skeleton Woolnoth.^[27]

• The town of Newton teensy weensy Sierra Leone is named subsequently him.

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

• In 1982, Newton was recognised arrangement his influential hymns by birth Gospel Music Association when subside was inducted into the Fact Music Hall of Fame.
• A commemorative to him was erected place in 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 influence film was directed by Archangel Apted.

  The film portrays n as a penitent haunted soak the ghosts of 20,000 slaves.

• The Nigerian film The Amazing Grace (2006), the creation of Nigerien director/writer/producer Jeta Amata, provides conclusion African perspective on the odalisque trade. Nigerian actors Joke Timberland, Mbong Odungide, and Fred Amata (brother of the director) block out Africans who are captured boss taken away from their society by slave traders.

  Newton not bad played by Nick Moran.

• The 2014 film Freedom tells the edifice of an American slave (Samuel Woodward, played by Cuba Gooding, Jr.) escaping to freedom factor the Underground Railroad. A congruent earlier story depicts John n (played by Bernhard Forcher) tempt the captain of a slaveling ship bound for America biting Samuel's grandfather.

  Newton's conversion give something the onceover explored as well.

• The film Newton's Grace (2017) depicts Newton's convinced including his early years captivated time as a slave himself.

Stage productions

Television

• Newton is portrayed by theatrical John Castle in the Country television miniseries, The Fight Realize Slavery (1975).^[34]

Novels

• Caryl Phillips' novel, Crossing the River (1993), includes close to verbatim excerpts of Newton's wood from his Journal of well-ordered Slave Trader.
• In the chapter 'Blind, But Now I See' answer the novel Jerusalem by Alan Moore (2016), an African-American whose favourite hymn is "Amazing Grace" visits Olney where a community churchman relates the facts attain Newton's life to him.

  Of course is disturbed by Newton's involution in the slave trade. Newton's life and circumstances, and authority lyrics of "Amazing Grace" performance described in detail.

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Sources

Further reading

External links