LYON, Mary, American educator: b. Buckland, Mass., 28 Feb. 1797; d. South Had ley, Mass., 5 March 1849. She began teaching at 18, and later studied at the Sanderson Acad emy, Ashfield, and at the Byfield Academy, near Newburyport, continuing to teach at intervals. In 1821 she began teaching at the Sanderson Academy, and in 1824 became associate prin cipal of the Adams Female Academy at Lon donderry, N. H, In 1828, with the principal of this school she moved to Ipswich, Mass., where they were followed by a number of their pupils, and established a seminary of which Miss Lyon had practically the entire charge for several years. The establishment of a seminary for girls, embodying the same principles of educa tion as the Ipswich school, and at the same time offering its advantages at a low price, became the main purpose of her life; and in 1834 she resigned her position at Ipswich, and, amid great discouragements, undertook the work of founding such a seminary. Aided to some ex
tent by clergymen and others, she succeeded in obtaining contributions, and on 8 Nov. 1837, a part of the buildings having been completed, the school was opened in South Hadley with about 80 pupils, tinder the name of the Mount Hol yoke Female Seminary. She was president of this school for 12 years, during which time it was enlarged and gained a national reputation for its high intellectual and moral standard.
(See MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE). She wrote 'Tendencies of the Principles embraced and the System adopted in the Mount Holyoke Fe male Seminary' (1840) and the (Missionary Offering' (1843). Consult Hitchcock, Edward, (Life and Labors of Mary Lyon) (New York 1860) ; Gilchrist, B. B., 'Life of Mary Lyon' (Boston 1910) ; Foster and Adams, (Heroines of Modern Progress) (New York 1913) ; Nut ting, M. 0., 'Historical Sketch of Mount Hol yoke Seminary' (Washington 1876).