Not much is known about the early life of Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss. He was an Englishman, born in England. Before leaving England, he lived at Quarry Court, Marlow, in the County of Buckingham, England. He was an Engineer by profession, and was married to Ethel Alice Baroness Bliss to whom he had left a settlement covenant before traveling abroad, and about whom he stated in his will that “my married life had been a very happy one” 

Nothing is known about how Baron Bliss acquired his wealth of almost a million pounds, whether through his profession, business, or inheritance, or all three. At the time of his death he had, beside his properties, a large amount of securities and shares. He must have been community-minded, as he was appointed a Justice of the Peace.

At sometime in his adult life, Baron Bliss acquired the title of the 4^th Baron Bliss of the Kingdom of Portugal, succeeding to ancestor relatives who held a position before. At this time he changed his surname from Barretts to Bliss. The Peninsular War occurred in Portugal from 1809 to 1814. Britain had always shown friendship to the kingdom of Portugal, and at this time sent British troops to fight against the incursions of Napoleon. One recalls the famous poems, “The Burial of Sir John Moore” who died in the battle of Corunna in Portugal. Most likely an ancestor of Baron Bliss was awarded the title of the 1^st Baron of the former Kingdom of Portugal; and Baron Bliss succeeded to this title as the 4^th Baron. 

It is known that Baron Bliss was ‘a man obviously of active mind and great courage to the last moment; he liked deep sea fishing and he was fond of working on a lathe.” 

Tragedy struck the Baron when, in 1911, at the age of 42 he was attacked by paralysis, which affected from his waist downwards, consigning this brave man to a wheel chair. But even at this, the crippled Baron remained active. He acquired a yacht which was built as a house boat, being towed by another boat. During the First World War (1914-1918) his boat was commandeered for war purposes. After the war, he acquired his famous yacht “Sea King No.2” which was a shallow draught yacht built to his specifications, for use in tropical waters. He intended to live on this yacht, and to enjoy tropical sea fishing. In 1920 he sent the “Sea King” to the Bahamas and followed it to live on it while fishing , even if crippled. 

Baron Bliss stayed in the Bahamas for five years, living on his yacht, even devising a means of pumping fresh water from land straight to the “Sea King.” He never returned to England. He acquired lands and buildings on Hog Island and Man Island in the Bahamas. Stationed mostly at Nassau, he had a long chance to see the social and administrative life of the islands, which he eventually got to dislike. In the middle of 1925 he went to the other end of the Caribbean to Trinidad, where he lived in the “Sea King”. It is there that he began failing in health from a bout with food poisoning from something he had eaten. While in Trinidad, feeling that the place did not appeal to him, he began thinking of somewhere else to go, where he could enjoy fishing and an atmosphere to his liking. He heard of Belize (then British Honduras) mostly through his friend mentioned in his will, Mr. Willoughby Bullock, who was an Attorney General of Belize, and who most likely by letter described the fishing potentialities of the Country, stating “ how charming the people were.” Baron Bliss read up about, and got information on the Country, learning about its shore-line, barrier reef, rivers, etc. He learned that the fishing was good and the climate excellent. Writing to his wife to say he had decided to go to Belize, he left Trinidad a sick man, and had to stop in Jamaica for a few days while his health recovered somewhat. Sending his yacht ahead to Belize, which arrived in Belize City Harbour a few days before him, Baron Bliss arrived in Belize on the 14^th January 1926, going aboard the “Sea King”. 

From the arrival of Baron Bliss and the “Sea King’ to Belize City Harbour (it anchored just off Fort George Point), Baron Bliss sampled the friendly courtesies and sampled the cool climate and sea breeze of Belize. He was given every courtesy and assistance from customs officials. The Governor, scholarly Sir John Alder Burdon, who produced a brief sketch on the Country as well as digested archives in three volumes, paid him a courtesy call aboard the “Sea King” and tendered every assistance that would be necessary. The health of ailing Baron Bliss seemed to improve for the next few weeks; and he took every opportunity to sample the fishing of the nearby waters. Every morning the crew of “Sea King” lowered him in his chair to the small boat, also named the “Sea King”, and friendly Belizean fishermen took him out to the cayes and barrier reef, where he seemed very happy and contented, and pleased with the helpfulness and friendliness of the local fishermen. This must have seemed to him all he wanted to make him happy and lively. 

But the health of Baron Bliss began to fail, what with his crippled state and his bout of illness in Trinidad. He was just a few days from his 57^th birthday when, on February 10^th, his nurse aboard the yacht sent ashore for a doctor. One report states that “the illness from which Baron bliss was suffering was not an illness just beginning; things were getting serious, and it must have been in existence for some time. He was ill in Jamaica, and he had come from Jamaica in a state of great illness.” The doctor came aboard the yacht; and after his examination, Baron Bliss is stated to have asked him, “Is this the beginning of the end?” the doctor advised him of this likelihood. Baron Bliss then re-called Governor Sir John Burdon on the 10^th February, expressing his wish and details for a will, which would leave the bulk of his estate for the Country. The Governor very wisely and very fortunately acceeded to the ideas and conditions which were outlined by the ailing Baron. He took the notes ashore; and on February 17^th, one day after the 57^th birthday of Baron Bliss, the will was executed and signed aboard the “Sea King”. The Will named the Governor (John Alder Burdon, C.M.G.) and the attorney General (Willoughby Bullock, Esq.) and their respective successors as Executors of his Will that would be comprise a “Baron Bliss Trust”. The Will was witnessed by Captain R.K. Masson and Mr. H. Towrye Price, Solicitor, and consisted of twelve pages. 

Baron Bliss wrote to his brother-in-law in England on the 18^th February. It was a courageous letter, telling him about the Will and his decision on his estate. The doctor visited him once more on the 25^th February, telling him he had about two more weeks to live. He died on the 9^th march, 1926, courageously stating in his will before that “I hope to die happy.”

The will of twelve pages of Baron Bliss which was signed aboard the yacht, “Sea King” was probated in the Supreme Court of Belize on the 15^th March 1926. The will surely indicates that Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss of the former Kingdom of Portugal, 57 years at his death, was courageous nobleman, rigid, meticulous, and a well-arranged character, who at all times, in spite of vissicitudes had order in his life style. On top of this, where Belize was concerned, he seemed to have been able to sample and appreciate the sincerity, scenery and society of Belize, the environment of the Country and the qualities of its people at short notice, and so revoke any former will in order to leave his presence and his money for the good of his newly-found home. 

Baron Bliss set out in his will, meticulously that he wished the Governor, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General and their successors in those posts of Belize to be the executors of his will and to constitute among themselves a “Baron Bliss Trust” to use the interest of investments of his money remaining for projects that would benefit Belize and Belizeans, this for good. He even stipulated that the Chairman of this Trust should get $300 per annum from his money, the other two members $200 each per annum; and that if necessary, up to two other temporary members be added to the Trust, such person to get $100 per annum. He wanted that Messrs. Coutts & Co. of 440 the Strand, London, England be his main banker, and that Messrs. Alexander Clapperton, C.A. formerly of 3 Charlotte Square, and later of 9 Great Stuart Street, Edinburgh, Scotland should be the auditors of his investments and of the Trust, should suggest areas of the investments and decisions on questions of the Trust. Incidentally, the Baron Bliss Trust, after almost 60 years, still deals with these two firms. 

The will stipulated methodically what bequests he wished to his wife, family, and friends. To his wife, most of his goods, and the money from the “Sea King” after its sale on top of previous annuities. He left annuities and gifts to his brother Harold Bliss, to his friend Gerald Bullard, to Sydney Wolton, to the son or sons of Harold Bliss, to his godson Aubrey Talbot Victor Wolton. To one he even bequeathed one of his necktie pins. Annuities of $5000 and a gift of $800 went to his wife (the gift to purchase a motor car), an annuity of $200 to Sydney Wolton, of $300 to the nurse attending to him at the time of his death, to his secretary for his services, if longer than eighteen months an annuity of $100 but only $50 if the service was less, to his former engineer William Daynes, an annuity of $26, to Mrs. Nellie fuller, an annuity of $200, all annuity to be paid quarterly, but that of his wife to be paid in advance. He bequeathed to his old friend, C. W.M. Price of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire a legacy of $250, and that up to $1200 should be shared by the trustees among the, members of the officers mess of the yacht.

Baron Bliss stipulated in his will that his body should be embalmed and brought ashore and buried near the sea in a granite tomb surrounding by an iron fencing, with obelisk or lighthouse nearby which would be available to visitors and citizens. He agreed that he could be buried temporarily in a garden until his tomb by the sea was ready. All expenses for this and for his funeral should be borne by his money. He even left a plan for his tomb and railings.

He requested that $100 be set aside annually for a sea or river regatta in one or two towns in the country. He stipulated that the Trustees should invest his money as they saw fit, but only in the United Kingdom, Government Securities of India, or any other British Dependency. These should be made through trustworthy banks, and only the income from the principal should be used by the Trustees for expenses and Belize’s benefits. Baron Bliss stipulated that the income from his money (the interest) could be used by the Trustees for capital projects only for Belize, the recipient to be responsible for maintenance and recurrent costs of any project. Any project costing over $500 should bear his name. He suggested some if the areas in which the Country could benefit from projects, but prohibited his money being used for dance halls, education or schools (except agricultural and vocational training), for mere entertainment, or for churches or chapels. 

No loans should be raised on the strengths of his investments. The Trustees could appoint and pay a secretary and employ any others necessary. They should pay all expenses from his funds. Even payments necessary to his yacht staff before its sale should be made. The will stipulated that the estate should be administered by the Trustees in Belize.

Any project over $500 should be submitted for plans to a British or maybe Canadian Engineer, but not through the Crown Agents. British architects and British materials should be used. Finally, Baron Bliss stipulated that the will should be drawn up by Hall Towrye Price, who should also be the Solicitor in winding up his estate. Mr. Price also witnessed his signing of the will aboard the yacht the “Sea King” in Belize City Harbour on the 17^th February, 1926. The Baron’s will of 12 pages, which he wished drawn up in quadruplicate, was signed by him, “Bliss”. And like the feeling denoted by his name “Bliss” the Baron prolouged his will by stating-“I desire to place on record that my married life has been a very happy one and that I have enjoyed my life never experiencing an unhappy day. I hope to die happy.” The Will of Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss was so clear in its stipulations, that there has hardly been any difficulty in the interpretation of it, and the carrying out of his wishes stated, during the past six decades.