Memoirs

John Newton

John Newton, London 24th July 1725 - 21st December 1807
The son of a sailor and orphaned at an early age, John Newton followed his father into the navy at the age of 11.
His impetuous nature and abhorrence of discipline made life difficult, but he eventually commanded his own ship and joined the slave trade.
The veneer of religious instruction given by his mother had been erased early on, but his last-ditch rescue in a storm, when for the first time he uttered a heartfelt prayer, changed the course of his life.
He devoted himself to God and took up a career in the church. One of the many hymns he wrote for church services is still going strong today: "Amazing grace..."