Emmanuel Xanthos was born in 1772 in Patmos and studied at the local Patmiada School. At the age of 20 he emigrated to Trieste, where several Patmonians flourished in trade and he himself engaged in trade for 18 years. In 1810 he settled in Odessa, close to the merchant Basil Xeni. In 1812 he travelled to Constantinople on Xeni’s commercial affairs and the following year to Preveza and Parga, in order to buy olive oil. On his return through the Ionian Islands he was initiated into Freemasonry in Lefkada.

In December of the same year, for the better fulfilment of his work, Xanthos settled in Constantinople, where his shop essentially became the secret headquarters of the Society of Friends. After the enlargement of its leadership circle with the admission of Panagiotis Anagnostopoulos (1816), Athanasios Sekeris (1818), etc., Xanthos occupied the eighth place in the hierarchy.

Emmanuel Xanthos was awarded the Golden Cross of Saviour for his services to the nation and was awarded a bonus, which he never received.

At his funeral, he was given the honours of a general. In 1930, a statue of him was erected in Kolonaki, in the Square of the Friendly Society.