John Thornton (1720-1790) was one of the wealthiest merchants in Europe. Thornton's father was the director of the Bank of England, and after his death Thornton inherited his father's money. He invested this in trade in Russia and became wealthier. He was heavily involved with Evangelical Christianity.
Thornton was a sponsor to John Newton and gave him 200 pounds a year. Newton had been a slave ship captain but converted to Christianity and became an abolitionist. Newton is most famous for writing "Amazing Grace".
Thornton was a philanthropist and, in the image, below is seen helping poor children with the merchant society.
John Thornton to Rev. William Richardson, 2 June 1774
“Phillis the African Girl… was over lately from Boston & staid with me about a Week[.] [S]he has surprising natural parts & they are sanctified by Grace, that she is indeed a prodigy, she was brot [ sic ] to Boston in 1761 being betwixt 7 & 8[,] & has been a Slave in a Family at that place ever since & with but little aid she has made an uncommon progress in Learning, writes an uncommon good hand, understands Latin[,] is conversant w th Scripture[,] very humble & teachable”.
John Thornton to Phillis Wheatley, 22 April, 1774
“Present situation & the kindness you met with from many good people & the respect that is paid to your uncommon Genius.… I have no reason to charge you with any indiscretions of this kind. I mean only to apprize you of the danger I feared for you when here, lest the notice many took of you should prove a Snare".
Thornton is suggesting Wheatley to not become proud after she received celebrity treatment in London.
The letters above are quotes from Vincent Carretta's novel Phillis Wheatley: Biography of a Genius in Bondage, on page 116. Published by the University of Georgia Press in 2014.
The image above is from the British Museum of a print of the Marine Society. © The Trustees of the British Museum. The print was made by John Hall and was published by John Bell the Publisher in 1774. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1850-1214-215
Watch this clip made by the BBC Teach First explaining who John Newton was: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/audio-stories-john-newton-amazing-grace/z7dgy9q
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