A new propeller shaped mononuclear manganese(III) complex of the general formula: [MnL 3 (H 2 O)], where HL is N'-benzylidenesalicylhydrazide, was synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of the title compound was characterized by X-ray single crystal diffractometry, which belongs to a triclinic system with space group P-1, cell dimensions of a=11.6411 Å, b=12.728 Å, c=16.346 Å, α=110.357°, β=96.555°, γ=108.996°, V=2075.2 Å 3 , Z=2 and D calc =1.265 g/cm 3 . In this complex, the metal ion is in an octahedral coordination environment, enforcing the stereochemistry of the ligands as a propeller configuration. Antibacterial screening data indicate that the complex has stronger antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms than the ligand.