Emmanouil Benakis (Greek:Εμμανουήλ Μπενάκης; 1843 inErmoupoli,Syros – June 20, 1929 inKifisia) was a Greek merchant and politician, considered a nationalbenefactor of Greece.^[1]

After studying inEngland, Benakis emigrated to Alexandria, Egypt, where he worked for the Greek cotton industrialist Horemi, and into whose family he married. He had six children, among whom were the writerPenelope Delta, the art collectorAntonis Benakis and Argini Salvago whose daughter married into the Melas family.^[2] Benakis became the president of the Greek community inAlexandria and ran the largest enterprise of Greekcotton brokers in Egypt. He accumulated a considerable fortune.^[1]

As a close friend ofEleftherios Venizelos, he was elected to theHellenic Parliament and served as Minister of Agriculture and Industry. He was electedmayor of the city ofAthens in 1914.

Among other benefactions he contributed to the settlement of refugees in the aftermath of theGreco-Turkish war in Asia Minor. He donated to theRed Cross Nurses' School and theAthens College. He provided for his fortune to be posthumously placed at the disposal of several charitable foundations, and his funeral was carried out at Greek public expense.

TheBenaki Phytopathological Institute was one such institution founded through his legacy.^[3]

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