TASKER HOWARD BLISS
BLISS, TASKER HOWARD, soldier in the United States army from second lieutenant, artillery, to brigadier-general; professor of military science; military attach^ United States legation, Spain; reciprocity commissioner to Cuba; president Army war college; assistant chief of staff United States army; was born in Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, December 30, 1853. His father, the Reverend George Ripley Bliss, was professor of ancient languages and biblical exegesis at Bucknell university and at Crozer theological seminary. The clear and scholarly judgment of his father and the strong intellectual and moral character of his mother, Mary Ann (Raymond) Bliss, produced an early and lasting impression on the mental and moral development of their twelve children. His first American ancestor on his father's side was Thomas Bliss, who came from England in 1635 and died at Hartford, Connecticut, in 1640; and on his maternal side. Governor Bradford, the first governor of Massachusetts Bay colony.
Tasker Howard Bliss attended Lewisburg academy, was matriculated at the University of Lewisburg, June, 1869, receiving the first prize for general proficiency and for special proficiency in Latin and Greek. At the end of his sophomore year at the university he was appointed a cadet at the United States military academy, September 1, 1871, where he was graduated number eight in a class of forty-five members (out of an original total of sixty-six) in June, 1875. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the 1st regiment, artillery, June 16, 1875, and joined his regiment at Oglethorpe Barracks, Savannah, Georgia. In 1876 he was detailed as assistant professor of modern languages at West Point academy. He was commissioned first lieutenant, July 1, 1880, and served with the regiment in New England and on the Pacific coast, 1880-82; he entered the United States artillery school at Fort Monroe, Virginia, in 1882, was graduated number one in the class of 1884, and was at once detailed as assistant professor of natural and experimental philosophy at West Point; but at the request of the commandant of the artillery school
