Born July 24, 1725, London.

Joined the merchant marine as a youth.

While returning home, Newton underwent a sudden religious conversion in March 1748 as he steered the ship through a storm.

Married childhood sweetheart, Mary Catlett.

Continued to captain slave ships until 1754.

His autobiography, The Authentic Narrative (1764), was published the year he became a priest in the Church of England.

There his dramatic preaching earned him large audiences, among whom was the poet William Cowper, and they became close friends. They jointly authored Olney Hymns in 1779 (280 hymns by Newton, and 68 by Cowper), many works from which still remain popular today.

Died December 21, 1807.

Buried at St. Mary Woolnoth.



Paralumun New Age Village