In 1750, John Newton, Governor of York Fort (AKA York Factory, Manitoba) for the Hudson's Bay Company drowned while taking a swim. But what if he had not died? What would his impact be on Canada? (I need to find someone who knows the early history of HBC for info on this...) Could he have risen to the head of the HBC?
Of course, no matter what impact this alternate Newton would have had on Canada, Newton would have a far greater impact outside Canada. He had asked for his son (the more famous John Newton) to join him at Fort York. His son was then a sea captain and had undergone a religious conversion. However, he had not shown a desire for the ministry at the time, and was still involved in the slave trade. His father had requested that he join him in Canada. What would have happened to John Newton had he moved to Canada? What course would his career take? (Perhaps he might set up a mission to the First Nations while working at York Fort?) Further, with Newton in Canada, would his friend in later years, William Cowper, have died early of suicide? What course would the abolitionist movement in the UK have taken without Newton's "Reflections on the African Slave Trade"? What would the impact of a world without "Amazing Grace" have on religion, folk music, gospel music, and bagpipe music*?
*The Royal Scots Greys introduced millions to bagpipe music with their "Farewell the Greys" album. Their version of "Amazing Grace" was controversial since A. It was a cover of what was considered to be a popular song (Judy Collins released it as a single a few months prior) and B. it paired pipes with a military band.