John Newton (July 24, 1725 – December 21, 1807) was an English clergyman and writer who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace, published in 1779, after converting to Christianity and abandoning his participation in the slave trade. Inspiration for Amazing Grace came from Newton's own personal experiences. Newton was born in London and grew up without any particular religious convictions. The son of a shipmaster in the Mediterranean service, he sailed on a total of six voyages until 1742 when his father died. In 1743 he was pressed into naval service, became a midshipman aboard the HMS Harwich, deserted, was recaptured and reduced to the rank of a common seaman, exchanged to a ship in the African station, became servant to a slave trader, and was rescued in 1748 and became converted to Christianity during a storm at sea. While at sea Newton also studied Latin and the Bible. It was after much soul searching and Bible reading that Newton saw the horrors of slavery and the hypocrisy it made him feel as a Christian. He soon gave up his association with slave shipping. In 1764 Newton was ordained a deacon and priest and given the curacy of Olney, Buckinghamshire. In 1767 the poet William Cowper settled there, and the result of their friendship was the Olney Hymns which greatly influenced English hymnology. In 1779 Newton was invited to become Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth in London, where he officiated until his death in 1807. Other well-known hymns by John Newton include "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken", "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds!", "Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare" and "Approach, My Soul, the Mercy seat" Amazing Grace is considered the most popular, and most recorded, hymn of all time. John Newton was recognized for his hymns of longstanding influence by the Gospel Music Association in 1982 when he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. | 