Samuel Abravanel HaNasi also spelt Abarbanel (1473-1551) was a prominent Sephardic-Italian financier, academic, and supporter of Italian Jewry.
Born in Lisbon, Portugal, into the Abravanel family, Samuel was the youngest of three sons; his father Isaac Abarbanel was a notable Portuguese Jew.
Samuel later married his first cousin Benvenida Abrabanel, however, the two had to move to Ferrara in 1541 when the Neapolitan government banned Jews from the city.
Their house became a favorite resort for Jewish and Christian scholars alike, such as David ben Yahya and Baruch of Benevento.
He enables many orphans to marry, supports the needy, and endeavors strenuously to free captives so that in him are combined all the great qualities which make one fitted for the gift of prophecy."