Jacob Abbott (November 14, 1803 - October 31, 1879) was an American writer of children's book Abbott was born at Hallowell, Maine to Jacob and Betsey Abbott. He attended the Hallowell Academy, then he graduated from Bowdoin College in 1820; studied at Andover Theological Seminary in 1821, 1822, and 1824; was tutor in 1824-1825, and from 1825 to 1829 was professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Amherst College; was licensed to preach by the Hampshire Association in 1826; founded the Mount Vernon School for Young Ladies in Boston in 1829, and was principal of it in 1829-1833; was...