Belize's Unique Baron Bliss Day Celebrations: A Tribute To An Unlikely Hero

Belize celebrates Baron Bliss Day on the 9th of March every year to commemorate the country's biggest financial benefactor, Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss. The day is a public and bank holiday, with a harbour regatta held in remembrance of the man who loved the sea. Baron Bliss was an Englishman born in 1869 and acquired the title of the 4th Baron Bliss of the Kingdom of Portugal. He was an engineer by profession and became paralysed from the waist down at the age of 42, likely due to polio. Despite this, he remained active and pursued his dream of a seafaring life, acquiring a yacht for leisure travel. After stopping in the Bahamas and Trinidad, he arrived in Belize in 1926, where his health improved as he spent time fishing. Baron Bliss never set foot on Belizean soil but was so impressed by the country's beauty and hospitality that he decided to leave the bulk of his fortune—valued at nearly $2 million—to the colony. The trust fund has been used for various projects across Belize, including the Bliss Institute, the Bliss School of Nursing, and other capital projects.

Baron Bliss Day is a public holiday in Belize

Although he never set foot on land in Belize, Baron Bliss fell in love with the country's beauty and the hospitality of its people. After contracting polio and becoming paralysed from the waist down in 1911, he pursued his passion for fishing and seafaring, acquiring the yacht "Sea King II" for his adventures. In 1926, he arrived in the harbour of Belize, where he spent his days fishing and bonding with local fishermen.

Sadly, Baron Bliss's health took a turn for the worse, and he passed away on his yacht in the Belize City Harbour on the 9th of March 1926, just days before his 57th birthday. Despite his brief time in Belize, he was so touched by the country and its people that he decided to leave the bulk of his fortune to the colony. In his will, he stipulated specific instructions on how the money was to be used for the benefit of the citizens of Belize, then known as British Honduras.

The Baron Bliss Trust was established to manage the funds, and it has since contributed to numerous projects across Belize, including the Bliss Institute, the Bliss School of Nursing, and various capital projects. The holiday serves as a reminder of Baron Bliss's generosity and his lasting impact on the country. While the official name of the holiday has been changed to National Heroes and Benefactors Day, many locals still refer to it as Baron Bliss Day, keeping his memory alive.

The celebration of Baron Bliss Day varies each year, with the date falling between March 6th and March 12th. The holiday is a time for Belizeans to honour Baron Bliss's legacy and express their gratitude for his contributions to the country. It is a day filled with festivities, including a harbour regatta, as per Baron Bliss's wishes, to commemorate his love for the sea.

Baron Bliss Day is celebrated on the 9th of March

Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, commonly known as Baron Bliss, was born in the Buckingham County of England on the 16th of February, 1869. He was an engineer by profession and succeeded his ancestors in acquiring the title of the 4th Baron Bliss of the Kingdom of Portugal. His original surname was Barretts, which he changed to Bliss upon acquiring the title.

At the age of 42, Baron Bliss contracted polio and was paralysed from the waist down, confining him to a wheelchair. However, this did not deter him from pursuing his dreams. He acquired a yacht, the "Sea King II," and retired to a life of seafaring and fishing. In 1920, he sailed to the Bahamas and lived there for five years before growing tired of the place. He then sailed to Trinidad but soon fell ill with food poisoning.

In 1926, he arrived in Belize City Harbour and was impressed by the beauty and hospitality of the country. Despite never setting foot on land, he decided to leave the bulk of his fortune to Belize. At the time of his death, his bequest to Belize was valued at around one million, eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars. However, the British government contested his will, and a significant portion of the original amount was taken out for British taxes.

The will left by Baron Bliss is a meticulously worded document with specific instructions on how the money should be used. Only the interest could be spent, and it was designated for agricultural and vocational schools, canals, and light supply. One interesting stipulation was that no American citizen could be involved with the management of his money.

Over the years, the Baron Bliss Trust has funded numerous projects across Belize, including the Bliss Institute, the Bliss School of Nursing, and other capital projects. The holiday was later renamed National Heroes and Benefactors Day, but many locals still refer to it as Baron Bliss Day.

Baron Bliss was an Englishman born in 1869

Baron Bliss, born Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, was an Englishman born in 1869. He was a British-born traveller who willed nearly two million Belize dollars to a trust fund for the benefit of the citizens of what was then the colony of British Honduras, now Belize.

Henry Edward Ernest Victor de Barreto was an engineer by trade. In 1890, he became the 4th Baron de Barreto when his father passed away. However, during the First World War, he reverted to his family name of Bliss and was known as Baron Bliss.

In 1911, at the age of 42, Bliss became paralysed from the waist down, likely due to polio, and was confined to a wheelchair. Despite this, he remained active and continued to pursue his love of sailing and fishing. He ordered a new 120-foot twin-screw yacht, which he named Sea King II, and sailed it to the Bahamas in 1920, where he stayed for five years.

In 1925, he left the Bahamas and sailed to Trinidad, but soon fell ill with food poisoning. He then decided to accept an invitation from his friend Willoughby Bullock, the Attorney General of British Honduras, and sailed to Belize, arriving in the Belize City harbour on 14 January 1926.

Bliss's health initially improved in Belize, and he spent his time sailing, exploring the coastline, and fishing. However, just before his 57th birthday, his health deteriorated, and he was informed that he was terminally ill. It was then that he decided to leave the majority of his fortune to the country. He signed a new will on 17 February, and passed away a few weeks later on 9 March 1926, without ever having set foot on the Belize mainland.

At the time of his death, Bliss's fortune was worth nearly one million pounds, or approximately BZ$1.8 million. His will included specific instructions on how the money was to be used for the benefit of the citizens of British Honduras. Aside from small lifetime annuities to his wife, relatives, and personal staff, the remainder of the funds were placed in a trust to be used for various projects in Belize.

Soon after his death, the government declared 9 March to be Baron Bliss Day, a national public holiday. This day is now known as National Heroes and Benefactors Day and is observed on the Monday closest to 9 March.

Baron Bliss was an avid sailor and fisherman

Despite his physical limitations, Baron Bliss was determined to continue his seafaring adventures. He equipped his boat with special modifications to accommodate his wheelchair, demonstrating his passion and resilience in the face of adversity. After growing tired of the Bahamas, he set sail for Trinidad, only to be met with a bout of food poisoning that further impacted his health. He then accepted an invitation from his friend Willoughby Bullock, the Attorney General of Belize, and made his way westward, with a brief stop in Jamaica for medical attention.

On January 14, 1926, the "Sea King" dropped anchor in the harbour of Belize, and Baron Bliss immediately felt a sense of peace and contentment. He spent his days exploring the coastline, fishing, and socialising with friendly local fishermen who happily took him out to the cayes and barrier reef. Despite never setting foot on land, Baron Bliss fell in love with the beauty and hospitality of Belize. He found contentment and happiness in his interactions with the local community, and it was this appreciation that ultimately led to his generous bequest to the country.

Baron Bliss's passion for sailing and fishing was so strong that he chose to spend his days on the water, even when faced with significant physical challenges. He found freedom and joy in exploring new places, and his impact on Belize through his financial contributions has left a lasting legacy that continues to be celebrated with gratitude and honour.

Baron Bliss left nearly $2 million to the country in his will

Baron Bliss Day is a national festival and public holiday in Belize, honouring British resident Baron Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, who died while on vacation in the country. Born in 1869, he was an engineer by profession and amassed a large fortune, partly through investing in petroleum shares and Shell Oil. He was paralysed from the waist down, likely due to polio, and used a wheelchair, but this did not stop him from pursuing his love of the sea and fishing.

Baron Bliss left nearly $2 million to the country of Belize in his will, which was an incredible amount at the time. This bequest was to be used for the benefit of the citizens of what was then the colony of British Honduras, now Belize. The will stipulated that only the interest could be spent and that the money could only be used for specific purposes, such as agricultural and vocational schools, canals, and light supply. The will also included detailed instructions for his burial, including the specific materials to be used for his tomb and the iron railing that was to surround it.

The Baron Bliss Fund has used the money from his bequest to fund numerous projects in Belize, including the Baron Bliss Institute and Promenade, the Bliss School of Nursing, the Belize City Water Supply System, and the Corozal Town Hall. The fund has benefited thousands of citizens and continues to aid Belize through various projects.

The people of Belize are extremely grateful for Baron Bliss's generosity, and his legacy is honoured every year on Baron Bliss Day, which falls on the 9th of March or the Monday closest to it. The day is marked by a harbour regatta, commemorating a man who loved the sea.

Frequently asked questions