William Wallace Smith Bliss

William Wallace Smith Bliss (August 17, 1815 – August 5, 1853) was a United States Army officer and mathematics professor. A gifted mathematician, he taught at West Point and also served as a line officer. In December 1848 Bliss married Mary Elizabeth Taylor, youngest daughter of President-elect Zachary Taylor, whom he would serve as presidential secretary. Five years later Bliss contracted yellow fever in New Orleans and died at the age of 37. Having become interested in the various Native American tribes, Bliss learned a number of their languages and studied their cultures. He was a member of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries of Copenhagen, Denmark, and an Honorary Member of the American Ethnological Society. Gifted at languages, he was able to read thirteen and could speak a number of those fluently. Early life and education Born in Whitehall, New York, he was the son of Captain John Bliss (of Lebanon, New Hampshire) and Olive Hall Simonds (of Todd County, Kentucky).