François Benoist

François Benoist (10 September 1794 – 6 May 1878) was a French organist, composer, and pedagogue.

Benoist was born in Nantes. He studied music at the Conservatoire de Paris and won the Prix de Rome in 1815 for his cantata Œnone. In 1819, he became organist (organiste du roi) and professor of organ at the Conservatoire; he held the latter post for half a century. His students included César Franck, Camille Saint-Saëns, Charles Lecocq, Georges Bizet, Louis Lefébure-Wely, Léo Delibes, and Adolphe Adam. As composer, he was comparatively unimportant, but did write two operas, four ballets, one Requiem Mass, and numerous works for organ. He died in Paris.