Benedetto Stay (1714–1801) was a Ragusan Roman Catholic clergyman, educated by Jesuits, he attended the academic assemblies of Marin Sorgo, beginning the composition of a poem on Alexander Farnese.

Later on, he published "Saggio sull'uomo", based on the system of Descartes.

[1] At the age of 28, he journeyed to Rome and became the pupil of Silvio Valenti Gonzaga at the Sapienza University of Rome.

Pope Clement XIII conferred on him the position of secretary of Latin letters and Clement XIV named him Head of the Secretariat.

Besides, he wrote three orations: one on the death of Clement XII, one for the election of his successor, and the third on the death of August III, king of Poland.