Fort Bliss Military Reservation and the national cemetery were named after William Wallace Smith Bliss. 

Bliss was born in Whitehall, New York, on August 17, 1815. 

He entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in September 1829 and graduated July 1, 1833. Ranked ninth in a class of forty-three graduates, the 17-year-old was considered a prodigy whose classmates dubbed him "Perfect Bliss." Later, Zachary Taylor's family gave him the same nickname. 
The scholarly Bliss spoke six languages and could read in thirteen languages. His expansive proficiency ranged from philosophy to poetry to military tactics.  

His first post, as a second lieutenant in the infantry, was in engagements against the Cherokee Indians (1833-1835) related to their forced removal from the southern United States. 

From (1834-1840) he taught mathematics at West Point.

 His service in the field against the Florida Indians (1840-1841) was followed by accompanying General Zachary Taylor to the Grand Council of Indian tribes in Oklahoma. 

He was then appointed adjutant general of the 16th Military Department until 1845. That August he became chief of staff to General Taylor, and served with him throughout the military occupation of Texas and the Mexican War.  

He was promoted the rank of brevet major in May 1846 for gallant and meritorious conduct during the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma; similar recognition and the rank of brevet lieutenant colonel occurred in February 1847 for actions at the battle of Buena Vista. 

From 1842 onwards he was a key staffer to "Old Rough and Ready"; it was said that with Bliss at his elbow, General Taylor could count on trustworthy and honest, competent advice. Bliss married Taylor’s youngest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, in December 1848, following Taylor’s election to the presidency.  Mary Taylor Bliss took on the duties of official hostess at the White House. 

 In July 1850, Colonel Bliss was assigned as adjutant general of the Western Division of the Army in New Orleans. On August 5, 1853, he died at Pascagoula, Mississippi, a victim of yellow fever; he was buried in the Protestant Cemetery on Girod Street in New Orleans. 

On November 22, 1955, Bliss’s remains were interred in this national cemetery with full military honors. 

William Bliss and General Zachary Taylor (Smithsonian).

WILLIAM W S BLISS

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