X-Nico

6 unusual facts about John Newton


1725 in poetry

July 24 – John Newton (died 1807), English, clergyman, former slave-ship captain and author of many hymns, including Amazing Grace

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

The text was first published by Cowper's friend, John Henry Newton, in his Twenty-six Letters on Religious Subjects; to which are added Hymns in 1774.

James P. Carrell

"Harmony Grove" is now the tune most associated with the John Newton hymn "Amazing Grace", and for many years Carrell and Clayton were credited as the composers.

Riding Lights Theatre Company

The play was a contribution to the national commemorations of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the UK and took as its theme the stories of John Newton and Olaudah Equiano.

Tallahassee Railroad

The railroad enabled Generals Samuel Jones and William Miller to put enough men into place to defeat Union General John Newton at the Battle of Natural Bridge on March 6, 1865.

The Amazing Grace

The film, occasionally narrated by Joke Silva, tells the reformation story of British slave trader John Newton (Nick Moran), sailing to what is now Nigeria to buy slaves but, increasingly shocked by the brutality of slavery, later gave up the trade and became an Anglican priest.


Aveley

John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace, lived in Aveley which was the home of his father's second wife.

Cowper and Newton Museum

Close by are the vicarage where the clergyman John Newton (1725–1807), a friend of Cowper, wrote the hymn Amazing Grace, the church at which he preached, and his grave (together with that of his wife).

William Gurnall

John Newton, the converted slave trader, said that if he was confined to one book beside the Bible, he'd choose Christian Armour. Cecil spent many of the last days of his life in reading it, and repeatedly expressed his admiration of it.


see also

Carter-Newton House

Edward Payson was the grandson of John Newton of Lexington, first ordained Presbyterian minister in Georgia.

John Dawney

John Dawney's elder brother, Thomas Dawney of Escrick, Yorkshire, married Elizabeth, the daughter of John Newton of Snaith, Yorkshire, and was ancestor of the Viscounts Downe.

Newton, Texas

However, John Newton's heroics are said to be a product of Parson Weems, who also fictionalized the story of George Washington and the cherry tree.

Strapwork

Strapwork became popular in England in the late 16th and 17th centuries as a form of plasterwork decorative moulding used particularly on ceilings, but also sculpted in stone for example around entrance doors, as at Misarden Park (1620), Gloucestershire, or on monumental sculpture, as on the frieze of the monument to Sir John Newton (d.1568), at East Harptree, Gloucestershire, and on that of Sir Gawen Carew (d.1575) in Exeter Cathedral.