John Newton - A brief biography by Michelle Buckman (Part 1)

John Newton (1725 - 1807) was an English Anglican clergyman who preached the gospel and worked to abolish slavery in England.  He went to sea at a young age and worked on slave ships for several years. In 1745, he himself became a slave, but later returned to sea and worked again on slave ships, this time as captain. 

After coming to Christ, Newton's whole life was transformed.  He renounced the slave trade and was ordained as a Church of England clergyman. He is well known for the hymns "Amazing Grace" and "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken".