Harisse was a lawyer and American historian born in Paris, who moved to the US when very young. Later in life, he became increasingly interested in the origins of modern America. Harisse wrote extensively on Christopher and Ferdinand Columbus, John and Sebastian Cabot, and the early voyages of American exploration, and is best known for 'Bibliotheca Americana Vetusissima', a description of over 300 writings on America published between 1492 and 1551. He was also the owner of the important Agnese atlas now known as the Harisse Codex.

Photographic portrait of Henry Harisse, a man with short hair and wearing a dark suit with a bow tie.