John Newton (August 4 [O.S. 24 July] 1725 – December 21, 1807) is an Anglican clergyman in England and the founder of the evangelical Clapham Sect.

He starts as an English sailor, in the Royal Navy for a period, and later a captain of slave ships.

He becomes ordained as an evangelical Anglican cleric, serves Olney, Buckinghamshire for two decades, and also writes hymns, known for "Amazing Grace" and "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken".

Newton starts his career at sea at a young age, and works on slave ships in the slave trade for several years.

After experiencing a period of Christian conversion Newton eventually renounces his trade and becomes a prominent supporter of abolitionism, living to see Britain's abolition of the African slave trade in 1807.