Mary Lyon (2/28/1797) began teaching at 17 in country schools in Massachusetts, where she was born. She taught to finance her own education at Sanderson Academy at Ashfield, Amherst Academy, and Joseph Emerson's seminary. She taught at Sanderson and opened her own school in Buckland in 1824.
In 1828 while teaching at Ipswich Female Seminary full time, she decided to address the need to quality education for women of moderate means. Mary raised funds for more than three years, obtaining a charter in 1836 for Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. Holyoke opened in 1837 with approximately 80 students - some 400 applicants were turned away in 1838 for lack of space. Mary served as principal for 12 years, expanding the curriculum and the space. Holyoke became, and remains, a leading institutions of higher educatio. She died in 1849.