Charles Dreyfus (1848, Alsace – 11 December 1935, Menton) was a French-born British Zionist activist and the President of the Manchester Zionist Society, a member of Manchester City Council and a leading figure in the East Manchester Conservative Association during the time that Arthur Balfour was Member of Parliament for the constituency and Prime Minister.
He emigrated to Manchester in 1869, where he established the Clayton Aniline Company in 1876.
[2][3] At Dreyfus' suggestion Balfour and the Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann (later first President of the State of Israel) first met at a constituency meeting on 27 January 1905.
[4][5] Dreyfus had been introduced to Weizmann by the Zionist activist and writer Joseph Massel.
[6][7] Dreyfus was Weizmann's employer in Manchester and remained a friend until his death.