Emmanuel Dmitrievich Naryshkin, born on July 30, 1813, and died on December 31, 1901, was a chamberlain, a large landowner, and a philanthropist. He was the only son of the chamberlain D. L. Naryshkin and the Polish beauty M. A. Chetvertinskaya, a well-known favorite of Emperor Alexander I.

Historians disagree on the origins of Emmanuel Dmitrievich. In genealogies, he is listed as the legitimate son of D. L. Naryshkin, however, contemporaries believed him to be the son of Emperor Alexander I. There is also a version that his biological father could have been Prince G. I. Gagarin, with whom Maria Antonovna had a romance in 1813. This connection led to Gagarin's disgrace and the rupture of Naryshkina's relationship with the emperor.

After the birth of her son, Maria Antonovna went abroad with her children, where Emmanuel received an excellent education. Upon returning to St. Petersburg, he entered the School of Guards Ensigns and Cavalry Junkers, where he studied alongside Lermontov and Martynov. The latter recalled that Lermontov called Naryshkin "the Frenchman" due to his poor knowledge of the Russian language, but overall noted him as a modest and kind young man.

Shortly before completing his studies, Naryshkin left the School and in 1836 joined the Lubensky Hussar Regiment. In 1839, he was transferred to the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment. In December 1843, he became an aide-de-camp to Count A. K. Benckendorff, and after his death, to Count A. F. Orlov. In 1847, Naryshkin resigned for health reasons with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

After his retirement, he settled in his estate in the Tambov province. From 1853, he served in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and in 1856 became the master of ceremonies at the Highest Court. In 1869, he retired again, but in 1879 returned to service and held high positions at court. In 1899, he was awarded the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

After the division of inheritance, Naryshkin used his funds for charity. He opened schools in his estates in Saratov and supported educational institutions in Tambov. In 1870, with his funds, the Catherine Teacher's Institute was opened, and in 1874, a society to assist needy students of the Tambov Gymnasium. In 1882, a dormitory was built on the territory of the gymnasium, named in his honor.

In 1876, with the support of Empress Maria Alexandrovna, Naryshkin opened the Alexandrovsky orphanage for the children of prisoners. He personally managed the orphanage and spent significant funds on it, providing children with everything they needed. For his charitable activities, Naryshkin repeatedly received letters of thanks from the emperor. Contemporaries noted him as a noble and honest man.