Presidential Cabinet Secretary. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, he was a merchant and partner in a prominent Boston, Massachusetts commercial house before he moved to New York City, New York in 1874. By 1881, his firm, Bliss, Fabyan and Company, became one of the largest wholesale dry-goods houses in the country. He was an advocate of protective tariffs and was one of the organizers of the American Protective Tariff League. He was also active in politics and served as the chairman of the Republican state committee (1887 to 1888), plus treasurer of the Republican National Committee 1892 to 1904. In 1897, President William McKinley appointed him United States Secretary of the Interior. He served until 1899 and in 1900, he was invited to stand as President McKinley's vice president, but refused the offer and resigned. He returned to his wholesale interests in New York City until his death from heart disease at age 78.
Presidential Cabinet Secretary. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, he was a merchant and partner in a prominent Boston, Massachusetts commercial house before he moved to New York City, New York in 1874. By 1881, his firm, Bliss, Fabyan and Company, became one of the largest wholesale dry-goods houses in the country. He was an advocate of protective tariffs and was one of the organizers of the American Protective Tariff League. He was also active in politics and served as the chairman of the Republican state committee (1887 to 1888), plus treasurer of the Republican National Committee 1892 to 1904. In 1897, President William McKinley appointed him United States Secretary of the Interior. He served until 1899 and in 1900, he was invited to stand as President McKinley's vice president, but refused the offer and resigned. He returned to his wholesale interests in New York City until his death from heart disease at age 78.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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