Supported by, among others; the 2nd Earl of Macclesfield (George Parker), Savilian Professor of Astronomy James Bradley and by William Jones, Bliss succeeded Edmond Halley as Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford University in February 1742 – being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May the same year.

As Savilian Professor he lectured courses in arithmetic, algebra, plane and spherical geometry, the use of logarithms and surveying instruments.

In 1762 he succeeded Bradley to become the fourth Astronomer Royal, but held the post for only two years before his unexpected death.

He died in Oxford, but was buried close to Edmond Halley in St Margaret's churchyard in Lee in south-east London.

As men of independent means, the first four Astronomers Royal including Bliss, were paid only a minimal salary.

Working for and with the Earl of Macclesfield, Bliss made meridian observations of a comet approaching the Sun in 1744 at Shirburn Castle and at Greenwich.