John Newton (1725-1807) was an English hymn writer and Church of England minister. Early life of wanton sin. For ten years involved in African slave trade. Hymns include Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds,and Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken. Collaborated with William Cowper in producing the “Olney Hymns.”
From 1755 to 1760 Newton held, on the recommendation of Manesty, the post of surveyor of the tides at Liverpool. Shortly after his settlement there, Whitefield, whom he had already met in London, arrived in Liverpool. Newton became his enthusiastic disciple, and gained the nickname of ‘young Whitefield.’ At a later period Wesley visited the town, and Newton laid the foundation of a lasting friendship with him; while he obtained introductions to Grimshaw at Haworth, Venn at Huddersfield, Berridge at Everton, and Romaine in London.
Still eagerly pursuing his studies, he taught himself Greek, and gained some knowledge of Hebrew and Syriac. He soon resolved to undertake some ministerial work; but he was undecided whether to become an independent minister or a clergyman of the church of England. In December 1758 he applied for holy orders to the Archbishop of York, on a title in Yorkshire, but received through the archbishop’s secretary ‘the softest refusal imaginable.’ In 1760 he was for three months in charge of an independent congregation at Warwick.
In 1763 he was brought by Dr. Haweis, rector of Aldwinkle, to the notice of Lord Dartmouth, the young evangelical nobleman; and on 29 April 1764 was ordained deacon, and on 17 June priest. His earliest charge was the curacy of Olney, Buckinghamshire, in Lord Dartmouth’s patronage. In the same year he published an account of his life at sea and of his religious experiences, called ‘The Authentic Narrative.’ It reached a second edition within the year, and still holds a high place in the history of the evangelical movement.
Taken from Christian Biography Resources at http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bnewton2.html