thumb|right|Barbara Bliss '''Barbara Ellen Mary Stevenson Bliss''' (12 April 1897 – 1987), was a British writer, lecturer and Liberal Party politician.

==Background== Bliss was born at The Tarlah, Boudjah near Smyrna, Ottoman Empire,<ref>The Times House of Commons, 1935</ref> the youngest of three daughters to Joseph Bliss and Margaret McClymont. Her father was briefly Liberal MP for Cockermouth.<ref>‘BLISS, Joseph’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U206273, accessed 1 Sept 2016]</ref> She grew up in Söke, Ottoman Empire.<ref>MacAndrews and Forbes and the Forbes Family - Wallis Kidd, 2016</ref> She was educated privately and at Girton College, Cambridge from 1917 to 1920, where she studied History and Economics.<ref>The Times House of Commons, 1964</ref>

==Professional career== Bliss was engaged in Voluntary Aid Detachment work during World War One. She returned to Turkey and was involved in refugee work in Constantinople.<ref>The Times House of Commons, 1929</ref> She undertook a lecture tour of Canada for the Save the Children Fund. She was a member of the Armenian Committee of the Save the Children Fund.<ref>The Liberal Year Book, 1929</ref> In 1926 she went on a world tour with her father. She was the Organising Secretary of the Housing Improvement Society in London.<ref>The Times House of Commons, 1935</ref> As a writer, her published works included 'The Temperance Question: its Relation to Women's Problems of To-Day.'<ref>The Liberal Year Book, 1929</ref>

==Political career== Given that her father had been an active Liberal, it was not surprising that Bliss should take up politics. While at University, she was a leading member of the Cambridge University Liberal Club<ref>"Women Who Aspire to Sit in Parliament." Illustrated London News [London, England] 4 May 1929: 752. Illustrated London News. Web. 1 Sept. 2016.</ref> In 1922 she became active in the Women's Liberal Federation, when she was first elected to the Federation's national executive.<ref>"By-Elections." Times [London, England] 23 Jan. 1928: 7. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 1 Sept. 2016.</ref> At the 1924 general election, she spoke in support of Ronald Williams, a Liberal MP defending his seat of Sevenoaks.<ref>Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser 17 Oct 1924</ref> In 1925 she first stood for election as a Progressive candidate for St Margaret's ward in the Westminster City Council elections.<ref>The Liberal Year Book, 1929</ref><ref>Twentieth Century Local Election Results Volume 1</ref> She became an Honorary Secretary of the anti-Lloyd George group, the 'Liberal Council'.<ref>"Liberal Council." Times [London, England] 12 Feb. 1927: 9. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 1 Sept. 2016.</ref> She carried out this role from 1927 to 1934.<ref>Girton College Register: 1869-1946</ref>

At the age of 32, Bliss was Liberal candidate for the East Grinstead division of Sussex at the 1929 general election. She was adopted as candidate in January 1928.<ref>"By-Elections." Times [London, England] 23 Jan. 1928: 7. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 1 Sept. 2016.</ref> This was the "Flapper Election" where women under the age of 30 were allowed to vote for the first time. East Grinstead was a safe Unionist seat and not promising territory for a Liberal candidate. However, she achieved a swing to the Liberals of 6.3%, finishing a respectable second place ahead of the Labour candidate.

She was Liberal candidate for the Carlisle division of Cumberland at the 1935 general election. She had some link with the area as the Bliss family had lived in Cumberland. However, a Liberal had not won Carlisle since 1918 and no Liberal had fought the seat at the previous election in 1931. This was not a good omen and she came a poor third.

Twenty-nine years later, she stood for a final time as a parliamentary candidate. She was Liberal candidate for the Isle of Wight division of Hampshire at the 1964 general election. No Liberal had run here since 1945, when they finished a poor third. It was regarded as a safe Conservative seat. She came third polling nearly 15%. She did not stand for parliament again.<ref>British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1992, FWS Craig</ref>

===Electoral record=== {{Election box begin | |title=General Election 1929: East Grinstead<ref>British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Unionist Party (UK) |candidate = Henry Cautley |votes = 21,940 |percentage = 57.9 |change = -6.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Party (UK) |candidate = Barbara Bliss |votes = 9,718 |percentage = 25.6 |change = +5.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Thomas Crawford |votes = 6,265 |percentage = 16.5 |change = +0.8 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 12,222 |percentage = 32.3 |change = -12.6 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = |percentage = 68.5 |change = -1.7 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Unionist Party (UK) |swing = -6.3 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin| |title= General Election 1935: Carlisle<ref>British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Edward Spears |votes = 16,591 |percentage = 48.7 |change =-8.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Arnold Townend |votes = 13,956 |percentage = 41.0 |change =+1.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Party (UK) |candidate = Barbara Bliss |votes = 3,525 |percentage = 10.3 |change =n/a }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 2,635 |percentage = 7.7 |change =-7.0 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = |percentage = 88.2 |change =+1.5 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing =-3.5 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=General Election 1964: Isle of Wight<ref name="Election results 1964">{{cite web|url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge64/i12.htm|title=UK General Election results – March 1964|publisher=www.politicsresources.net|accessdate=27 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811164804/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge64/i12.htm|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Mark Woodnutt |votes = 27,497 |percentage = 53.5 |change = -9.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = William Mann |votes = 16,244 |percentage = 31.6 |change = -5.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Party (UK) |candidate = Barbara Bliss |votes = 7,666 |percentage = 14.9 |change = n/a }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 11,253 |percentage = 21.9 |change =-3.9 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = |percentage = 74.3 |change =+0.2 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing =-1.9 }} {{Election box end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bliss, Barbara Ellen Mary Stevenson}} Category:1897 births Category:1987 deaths Category:Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates Category:Alumni of Girton College, Cambridge Category:British expatriates in the Ottoman Empire