- Jan 1 William Joseph Westbrook, British organist and sacred music composer, born in London, England (d. 1894)
- Jan 2 Justin Winsor, American librarian (Boston Public Library, 1866-78; Harvard, 1878-97), founder of American Library Association, and writer, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1897)
- Jan 7 Heinrich von Stephan, German Director of the Post service who introduced the telephone to Germany, born in Stolp, Pomerania, Kingdom of Prussia (d. 1897)
- Jan 11 James Ronald Chalmers, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Halifax County, Virginia (d. 1898)
- Jan 14 John Bullock Clark Jr., American general (Confederate Army), born in Fayette, Missouri (d. 1903)
- Jan 17 Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria (d. 1903)
- Jan 18 Edward Ferrero, American ballroom operator and Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Granada, Spain (d. 1899)
- Jan 20 Piet Joubert, South African general and vice-president, born in Prince Albert, British Cape Colony (d. 1900)
- Jan 26 Mary Mapes Dodge, American children's author (St. Nicholas Magazine), editor and writer (Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates), born in New York City (d. 1905)
- Jan 28 Henry Brevard Davidson, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1899)
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
80-89
Over 90