- Feb 1 Henry Lawrence Eustis, American Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1885)
Emperor Norton (1819-1880)
Feb 4 British born self proclaimed "Norton I, Emperor of the United States", born in London, England
- Feb 8 John Ruskin, English writer and art critic who championed Gothic Revivalist and the Pre-Raphaelites, born in London, England (d. 1900)
- Feb 10 Richard Storrs Willis, American composer, mostly of hymns ("Carol"; "Fairest Lord Jesus"), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1900)
- Feb 11 Samuel Parkman Tuckerman, American sacred music composer, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1890)
Christopher Latham Sholes (1819-1890)
Feb 14 American newspaper man, politician and inventor of the typewriter, born in Mooresburg, Pennsylvania
- Feb 14 James Green Martin, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (d. 1878)
- Feb 18 Joseph Philbrick Webster, American composer and songwriter (Lorena), born in Manchester, New Hampshire (d. 1875)
- Feb 19 Mark Prager Lindo, English-Dutch writer (The Dutch Spectator), born in London, England (d. 1877)
- Feb 20 Alfred Escher, Swiss politician, railroad entrepreneur (d. 1882)
- Feb 22 Bernardo Calvo Puig, Spanish composer, born in Vic, Spain (d. 1880)
- Feb 22 James Russell Lowell, American poet, critic and diplomat (Biglow Papers), born in Cambrisge, Massachusetts (d. 1891)