Background
Bliss, Porter Cornelius was born on December 28, 1838 in New York, United States. Son of Review Asher and Cassandra (Hooker) Bliss.
Bliss, Porter Cornelius was born on December 28, 1838 in New York, United States. Son of Review Asher and Cassandra (Hooker) Bliss.
Bachelor of Arts, Hamilton College Interested in Indian life, began working for a Boston society to investigate conditions of Indians in Maine, North.B. and Nova Scoti. Clerk in Interior Department, 1861. Secretary to James Watson Webb, minister to Brazil, 1861-1862.
Worked for Argentine government, explored Grand Chaco region, 1862-1863, also edited River Plate Magazine, Buenos Aires.
Private secretary to Charles A.
James Watson Webb as private secretary on his mission to Brazil 1861-1863. Was commissioner of the Government of the Argentine Republic for the exploration of the Indian country called the Gran Chaco 1863. Edited at Buenos Aires a monthly periodical, The River Platte Magazine (1864).
Was appointed by President López historiographer of Paraguay.
Became secretary to Honorary Charles Ames Washburn, United States minister to Paraguay, 1866.
Aided him in collecting materials for his History of Paraguay (2 vols, 1871). Was imprisoned by command of López on a charge of treason and conspiracy for his assassination September 10, 1868.
While imprisoned wrote under duress a deliberately falsified account of the United States. legation"s plan, retracted after his rescue by a United States Navy squadron December 10, 1868.
Appointed translator to the State Department at Washington, March, 1869. Editor of the Washington Chronicle 1869-1870. President Grant appointed him secretary of legation in Mexico 1870-1874, and acting minister several months 1872-1873.
He afterward resided in New York, and was vice-president of the American Philological Society and an editor of the New York Herald.
Died in New York, February 1, 1885.
Member Mexican Geographical.