Alexander III of Macedon (20/21 July 356 - 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was king of Macedon, a state in northern ancient Greece. Born in Pella in 356 BC, Alexander was tutored by Aristotle until the age of 16. By the age of thirty, he had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Himalayas. He was undefeated in battle and is considered one of history's most successful commanders. Jacob Abbott (November 14, 1803 - October 31, 1879) was an American writer of children's books.