Francesco Saverio Merlino (Naples, September 15th, 1856 - Rome, June 30th, 1930) is an Italian lawyer militant Anarchiste then Socialiste.

It is born in Naples on September 15th, 1856. About 1875 he discovers and adopts the theses of anarchism; with the passing of years which will follow it will become one of the great personalities of the movement in Italy and in the world.

In 1878 in the capacity as lawyer it takes part in the lawsuit of band of Matese where is considered a group of anarchists (among whom Malatesta and Carlo Cafiero) having carried out an insurrection in the villages of Letino and of Gallo. It finally manages to obtain the payment of the defendants.

In 1884, like much of anarchist Italian about this time, its anarchistic ideas oblige it to be exiled. The following year Merlino is in Paris to try to establish a coordination between the French and Italian anarchistic movements. Of return in Italy it continues in the years which follow its engagement in anarchism what will be worth in particular two years to him of imprisonment between 1894 and 1896.

Merlino proposes into 1897 with the anarchists to break with the abstentionism to take part in elections what will cause a polemic with Malatesta. Merlino will then be diverted gradually anarchism to be directed towards socialism. This will not prevent it from continuing to defend the anarchistic militants as in 1898 when, in company of Pietro Gori and Enrico Ferri, it will defend several anarchists (among whom once again Malatesta is) accused following the general strike and with the riots against the raising of prices.

It ensures as in August 1900 the defense of the regicide Gaetano Bresci (anarchistic having assassinated the king of Italy Humbert I {{er}} one month earlier) as it saves capital punishment.