Horace Mann (1796-1859)
May 4 American educator, author, abolitionist and politician who pioneered public schools, born in Franklin, Massachusetts
- May 4 Joseph Pannell Taylor, American Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Louisville, Kentucky (d. 1864)
- May 4 William H. Prescott, American historian, born in Salem, Massachusetts (d. 1859)
- May 9 August Pauly, German writer (Real Encyclopedia), born in Benningen am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (d. 1845)
- May 17 Martinus Niewindt, Dutch Bishop of Curacao (advocate for fair treatment and abolition of slavery), born in Amsterdam (d. 1860)
- May 21 Reverdy Johnson, American politician and jurist (Dred Scott v. Sandford), born in Annapolis, Maryland (d. 1876)
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
80-89
Over 90