Benjamin Piatt Runkle (September 3, 1836 – June 28, 1916) was one of the seven founders of Sigma Chi fraternity at Miami University, and led a regiment and a brigade in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He served as Chief Superintendent of Freedmen's Affairs, State of Kentucky and was plaintiff in the Supreme Court case Runkle v. United States. Runkle was an Episcopal rector and twice served as trustee of Miami University.