Bliss, Zenas R. (Zenas Randall), 1898-1993

Born in Rhode Island, Zenas Randall Bliss (1933-1900) left his home state in 1850 for his appointment to West Point Military Academy. Bliss' military career began with his assignment to duty as a brevet second lieutenant in the First Infantry at the completion of his training in 1854. Sent to Texas, Bliss served at Fort Duncan until 1855, when he was promoted to second lieutenant and transferred to an Eighth Infantry position at Fort Davis. Bliss was promoted again to lieutenant in 1860 and then to captain in 1861 at Camp Hudson. As the federal forts surrendered in Texas after secession, Bliss attempted to march his garrison to the Gulf Coast but was intercepted by Confederate troops. In 1862, after a brief imprisonment, Bliss was appointed colonel of the Tenth Rhode Island Infantry. He was then breveted to major of the regular army for his service at the battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia later that same year, and to lieutenant colonel in 1864 for his service at the Battle of the Wilderness. After the Civil War, in 1867, Bliss was assigned major of the Thirty-Ninth Infantry. Appointed commander of the Department of Texas, Bliss served at Forts Bliss, Clark, Davis and Duncan between 1871 and 1879. He was appointed lieutenant colonel of the Nineteenth Infantry in 1879, and promoted to colonel of the Twenty-Fourth Infantry in 1886. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1895 and finally major general in 1897, retiring within the same year. Zenas R. Bliss died in Washington, D. C. in 1900.

From the guide to the Zenas Randall Bliss Papers 2001-161., 1854-1898, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Zenas Randall Bliss was born on March 3, 1898. His father, Major General Zenas R. Bliss (1835-1900) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service to the United States during the American Civil War. Bliss graduated from Brown University in 1918 and earned his master's degree in 1919. From 1923 until his retirement in 1965, Bliss served in a range of teaching and administrative positions at Brown, including Instructor, Engineering Department (1923-1926), Assistant Professor of Engineering (1926-1933), Associate Professor of Engineering (1934-1937), Director of Research, Division of Engineering (1938-1957); Professor of Engineering (1940-1965), Dean of the University (1957), Provost of the University (1958-1965), and Provost and Professor of Engineering Emeritus (after 1965). His service to Brown included membership on the following committees: the Committee on Curriculum (1952-1954), the Committee on Admission (1956-1959), and the Committee on Academic Standing (1956-1958). He was both a member and chairman of the Athletic Council.

During World War II Bliss served with U.S. Army Intelligence, retiring as a colonel. In 1946 he was awarded the Legion of Merit. Prior to the war, he served in the 43rd Division Rhode Island National Guard. He was a member of the Cruising Club of America and was the navigator for the late Harold Vanderbilt on the America's Cup yachts Ranger and Rainbow in 1934 and 1937. He was a member of the University Club, serving as its President from 1947-1949; the Providence Art Club, the Society of Colonial Wars, and the Providence Athenaeum. He was a trustee of the Rhode Island School of Design, the Lincoln School in Providence, Rhode Island; Citizens Savings Bank, and the Director of Narragansett Electric company. Bliss died in Providence, Rhode Island, on September 11, 1993.

From the guide to the Zenas R. Bliss papers, Bliss (Zenas R.) papers, 1952-1966, (John Hay Library Special Collections)