Cornelius Newton Bliss

Cornelius Newton Bliss ( born January 26, 1833 in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts, † October 9, 1911 in New York City ) was an American politician ( Republican) of the cabinet of U.S. President William McKinley as Interior Minister belonged.

Bliss initially grew up in Massachusetts, before he moved to New Orleans, where he worked for his stepfather, who worked in accounting there. After returning to Massachusetts in 1849, he became a clerk and later a junior partner of the trading company Wright & Whitman in Boston. Then, his employer sent him to New York, where he was to establish a branch. After the death of two senior partner in the firm Bliss, Fabyan & Co. was renamed. Under this name, it was among the most successful wholesale stores in the USA.

As a strong advocate of protective tariffs, he was among the founders of the American Protective Tariff League, which he chaired for many years as president. Politically, he was active in the Republican Party, whose chairman he was in New York from 1887 to 1888. He played a big part in the success of Benjamin Harrison in the presidential election, 1888. From 1892 to 1904 he was Treasurer ( Treasurer ) of the Republican National Committee.

In the cabinet McKinley Bliss 1897 was initially intended as finance minister; However, he refused. Instead, he took over as head of the Interior Ministry, which he headed until February 19, 1899 on March 6, 1897. Prior to the presidential election in 1900 it the post of vice-president was offered; this time he renounced. In its place was a candidate Theodore Roosevelt, who took his succession after the assassination of President McKinley.

Cornelius Newton Bliss was married to Elizabeth Mary Plummer ( 1836-1923 ). From this marriage four children were born, two of which, however, did not reach adulthood. His daughter Lillie was one of the founders of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.