This school was founded in Amherst in 1846 by Rev. John A. Nash, Amherst College Class of 1824, as the "Mount Pleasant Boarding School for Boys," for boys between the ages of 8 and 16. The name was changed in 1851-52 to "Mount Pleasant Boarding School," and again in 1853/54 to "Mount Pleasant Institute," a title that it retained at least through 1902-03, when it relocated to Hadley, Massachusetts. John A. Nash served as principal until 1854, when he was appointed professor of scientific agriculture at Amherst College. He was succeeded at Mount Pleasant Institute by his son, Henry C. Nash (AC 1851) and grandson, William K. Nash (AC 1883).