William S. Clark (1826-1886) was educated at Williston Seminary, Easthampton (Currently Williston Northampton School) and Amherst College. Following his graduation from Amherst College in 1848, he taught for several years at Williston Seminary. In 1850 he went to the University of Gottingen, Germany where he received a Ph.D. in Chemistry. Between 1852 and 1867, Clark taught Chemistry, Botany and Zoology at Amherst College except for a break during the Civil War when he served with the 21st Massachusetts Volunteers and obtained the rank of Colonel. From 1864-1867, in addition to teaching at Amherst College, Clark served as member of the Massachusetts Legislature and was a strong advocate for the location of an agricultural college in Amherst. In 1867, he was appointed third President of the Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC) just as MAC accepted its first entering class. In 1876, he was granted a year’s leave to go to Japan to assist with the establishment of Sapporo Agricultural College. In Japan, he established the curriculum and taught along with David P. Penhallow, William Pen Brooks and William Wheeler, all graduates of MAC. Clark resigned as President of the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1879 and died in 1886.