Henry Harrisse

Henry Harrisse was a renowned Historian and Bibliophile of French and American descent, known for his extensive research on Christopher Columbus and the Age of Exploration. His work was heavily influenced by the writings of Washington Irving, William H. Prescott, and Francisco López de Gómara. Harrisse's studies took him to various institutions, including the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and the Library of Congress, where he consulted rare Manuscripts and Incunabula by Aldus Manutius and Johannes Gutenberg. He was also familiar with the works of Hernán Cortés, Fernando Magellan, and Vasco da Gama.

● Early Life and Education

Henry Harrisse was born in Paris, France in 1829 to a family of French and American descent. His early education took place in Paris at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, where he developed a strong interest in History and Literature, particularly in the works of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot. He later attended the University of Paris, where he studied Law and Philosophy under the guidance of Victor Cousin and Étienne Vacherot. Harrisse's academic pursuits also led him to the Sorbonne, where he was exposed to the teachings of Jules Michelet and Edgar Quinet. During his time in Paris, he visited the Louvre Museum and the Musée des Archives Nationales, which housed rare Artifacts and Documents related to Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Revolution.

● Career

Harrisse's career as a Historian and Bibliophile spanned several decades, during which he traveled extensively throughout Europe and America, visiting prominent institutions such as the British Museum, the Vatican Library, and the New York Public Library. He was a member of various academic societies, including the Société de Géographie, the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, and the American Geographical Society, where he interacted with notable figures like Alexander von Humboldt, Carl Ritter, and Ferdinand de Lesseps. Harrisse's research focused on the Age of Exploration, and he was particularly interested in the voyages of Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Fernando Magellan, as well as the writings of Bartolomé de las Casas and Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés. He also studied the Treaty of Tordesillas and the Treaty of Zaragoza, which played a significant role in shaping the Colonial History of the Americas.

● Works and Publications

Harrisse's literary output was substantial, and he published numerous works on History, Bibliography, and Cartography, including Bibliotheca Americana Vetustissima and Christophe Colomb, which showcased his expertise on Christopher Columbus and the Pre-Columbian Era. His writings were influenced by the works of William Robertson, Edward Gibbon, and Thomas Babington Macaulay, and he was also familiar with the Encyclopédie by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert. Harrisse's publications were well-received by the academic community, and he was praised by scholars like Justin Winsor, George Bancroft, and Henry Charles Lea. He also contributed to various academic journals, including the Revue Historique, the Journal of the American Geographical Society, and the Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, which featured articles on Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and the American Civil War.

● Legacy and Impact

Henry Harrisse's legacy as a Historian and Bibliophile is still recognized today, and his contributions to the field of American History and Cartography are undeniable. His works have been cited by numerous scholars, including Samuel Eliot Morison, Boies Penrose, and Lawrence C. Wroth, and have influenced the research of institutions like the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Smithsonian Institution. Harrisse's research on Christopher Columbus and the Age of Exploration has also been referenced in various Museums and Exhibitions, such as the National Museum of American History and the Museo del Prado, which have featured Artifacts and Documents related to Ferdinand and Isabella, Philip II of Spain, and the Spanish Empire. His name is also associated with the Harrisse Collection at the Library of Congress, which contains rare Books and Manuscripts related to American History and Exploration, including works by Hernando Cortés, Bernal Díaz del Castillo, and Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca.