He was the son of Samuel (or James) Newton, a well-to-do St Kitts slave owner from Stowey, Somerset.
He settled in Suffolk in 1813 after his father purchased Elveden Hall, near Thetford from the 4th Earl of Albemarle.
He was elected member of parliament (MP) for Ipswich in 1818, narrowly defeating Henry Baring by 32 votes.
His wife Elizabeth (or Eliza) was the daughter of Richard Slater Milnes, MP for the city of York.
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