Newton John

Newton, John (1725-1807), born in London, after attending school at Stratford for two years, went to sea and was concerned for some time in the African slave trade. He then turned his attention to religion, gave up the sea and, while a tidewaiter at Liverpool, prepared himself for ordination. He eventually became curate of Olney, where he became the intimate friend of the poet Cowper and the philanthropist John Thornton, the latter of whom, in 1779, presented him to the living of St. Mary Woolnoth. His earnest preaching and devout conversation had a great influence on the leaders of the Evangelical movement, and, both by evidence before Parliament and by earnest advocacy, he contributed to the eventual abolition of slavery. Mr. Newton contributed to the Olney Hymns, published by Cowper in 1776, and his published works include an Autobiography, A Review of Ecclesiastical History, Cardiphonia, and Letters of Omicrcn.