The captain of a slave trading ship, he was so depraved that once in a drunken stupor he fell overboard. His crew, in order to rescue him, threw a harpoon through his leg and reeled him back on board. His constant limp reminded him of God's grace. His name was John Newton, and he died this day, Dec. 21, 1807. Spending the rest of his life working to rid England of slavery, John Newton is best known for writing the song: "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see."