William W.S. Bliss

William Wallace Smith Bliss

Born: August 17, 1815 in New York, United States
Died: August 5, 1853 in Mississippi, United States
Occupation: Soldier

Source Citation: Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America and Genealogical Records of Maine and New Hampshire Settlers, 1600s-1900s

William Wallace Smith Bliss, soldier was born in Whitehall, New York, August 17, 1815 and died unexpectedly of yellow fever in Pascagoula, Mississippi, August 5, 1853. He was the son of Captain John Bliss (West Point, 1811) and Olive Hall Simonds and was graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1833.

He was assistant professor of mathematics at West Point from 1834 until 1840, and then became assistant adjutant-general at the headquarters of the western military departments, 1842 through 1845. During the Mexican war he was chief of staff to General Zachary Taylor, and took an active part in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and Buena Vista.

William W. S. Bliss married Mary Elizabeth Taylor, youngest daughter of Zachary and Margaret Taylor on December 5, 1848. From March 4, 1849 until July 9, 1850, he was private secretary to President Taylor.

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas was named in honor of Col. Bliss in March, 1854. Col. Bliss' remains were removed from the Girod Street Cemetery in New Orleans, LA to the Fort Bliss National Cemetery in 1955.

Lineage

# 00001 Thomas Bliss and Margaret Hulins, England and Hartford, CT

# 00010 John Bliss and Patience Burt, Longmeadow, MA

# 00044 John Bliss and Anna Terry, Enfield and Lebanon, CT

#00119 Ebenezer Bliss and Rebecca Colton, Lebanon, CT

#00301 Ebenezer Bliss and Jane Whatley, Lebanon, CT

#00822 Capt. John Bliss and Olive Hall Simonds, Whitehall and Troy, NY

#02100 Brevet Lieut. Col. William Wallace Smith and Elizabeth Taylor (no descendents)