John Newton is remembered among the hymn writers because of the radical change that took place in his life at conversion. Born in London, his only schooling was from his eighth to his tenth year. He went to sea at eleven, his godly mother following the profligate youth with her prayers. As a midshipman in the navy he deserted his post, was captured, and reduced to a common seaman, and later became a servant of a slave dealer in Africa. He was converted at 23 after an awful night steering a water-logged ship in the face of death. Though converted, he retained certain blind spots in his social outlook and he continued as a slave dealer. This hymn was written when he was on a voyage from Sierra Leone, Africa, with a load of slaves shackled closely together and being taken to London or America to be sold. “I have never had such sweet communion with Jesus as I had on that voyage,” he wrote. This may seem like hypocrisy, but it must be remembered that slavery was a common practice and that only a few people of the time understood clearly its complete denial of the spirit of Christ. It may be that future generations will see in our times evils that flourished unchallenged while we prayed and sang according to the light we had. In 1750, Newton married Mary Catlett, a noble and pious woman, and a godsend in his life. In 1755, he settled down as customs officer in Liverpool, becoming at the same time greatly interested in Wesley and Whitefield and other evangelical leaders. Three years later he became a minister in the Church of England, and in 1764, he began a distinguished career as curate at Olney, where he was associated with his friend, William Cowper, the poet. The two were joint authors of the _Olney Hymns_, 1779. After sixteen years in Olney, he moved to London where for 28 years he did faithful and successful work as rector of St. Mary Woolnoth. He wrote his own epitaph which is found on a plain marble tablet near the vestry door of his church in London: John Newton, Clerk Once an Infidel and Libertine, A servant of slaves in Africa, Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Preserved, restored, and pardoned, And appointed to preach the Faith He had long labored to destroy, Near 16 years at Olney in Bucks And ... years in this church On Feb. 1, 1750, he married Mary, Daughter of the late George Catlett Of Catham, Kent. He resigned her to the Lord who gave her On 15th of December, 1790