Jacob Abbott

Jacob Abbott (November 14, 1803 – October 31, 1879) was an American writer of children's books and historical biographies.

Early life On November 14, 1803, Abbott was born in Hallowell, Maine to Jacob Abbott II and Betsey Chandler. He attended the Hallowell Academy.

Education Abbott graduated from Bowdoin College in 1820. At some point during his years there, he supposedly added the second "t" to his surname, to avoid being "Jacob Abbot the 3rd" (although one source notes he did not actually begin signing his name with two t's until several years later).

Abbott studied at Andover Theological Seminary in 1821, 1822, and 1824. He taught at Portland Academy and was a tutor in Amherst College during the next year.

Career From 1825 to 1829 Abbott was professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Amherst College;

His brothers, John Stevens Cabot Abbott and Gorham Dummer Abbott, were also authors.

See his Young Christian, Memorial Edition, with a Sketch of the Author by Edward Abbott with a bibliography of his works.

Other works of note: Lucy Books, Jonas Books, Harper's Story Books, Marco Paul, Gay Family, and Juno Books.

Personal life On May 18, 1829, Abbott married Harriet Vaughan. He had four sons; Benjamin Vaughan Abbott, Austin Abbott, both eminent lawyers, Lyman Abbott, and Edward Abbott, a clergyman, were also well-known authors.

Select Bibliography Biographies

Alexander the Great (1841) Alfred the Great King Charles I King Charles II Cleopatra Cyrus the Great (1878) Darius Queen Elizabeth Genghis Khan Hannibal Hortense Josephine Julius Caesar Margaret of Anjou Mary, Queen of Scots Nero Peter the Great Pyrrhus Richard I Richard II Richard III Romulus William the Conqueror Xerxes

American History Series

Aboriginal America (1860) Discovery of America (1860) Southern Colonies (1860) Northern Colonies (1862) Wars of the Colonies (1863) Revolt of the Colonies (1864) War of the Revolution (1864) Washington (1865)

Educational fiction Rollo's Experiments (1839) Rollo Learning to Read (1847) Rollo at Work or, The Way to Be Industrious (1848) Rollo at Play or, Safe Amusements (1850) Rollo in London (1854) Bruno or, Lessons of Fidelity, Patience, and Self-Denial Taught by a Dog (1854) Cousin Lucy's Conversations (1854) Rollo in the Woods (1857) Georgie (1857) [Note: dates may be revised editions]