Ferdinand Bonnel, S.J., 31 August 1865 in Roubaix, France – 7 May 1945 in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, was a French Jesuit priest.

His training continued with the study of philosophy (1891–1893) and theology (1897–1900) at the seminary of the Jesuits in Enghien, Belgium, with a break for a few years of apostolic experience in Reims between 1893 and 1897.

In 1902, he joined his brother Fr Charles Bonnel (also a Jesuit priest) as a missionary in Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka).

Bonnel spent a year studying the Tamil language (1902–1903)[1] before he was appointed director of St. Michael's College National School.

Bonnel is considered as a renowned educator, who has been honored by issuing a Sri Lankan postage stamp with his image in 1988.