- Jan 2 Mily Balakirev, Russian pianist and composer (Islamej, Tamara), born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (d. 1910)
- Jan 12 Adolf Jensen, German pianist, composer, and teacher, born in Königsberg, Prussian (now Kaliningrad, Russia) (d. 1879)
- Jan 12 Carlos Troyer, American composer, born in Frankfurt, German Confederation (d. 1920)
- Jan 16 James Phillip Simms, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1887)
- Jan 19 William Williams Keen, American physician (1st American brain surgeon), born in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania (d. 1932)
- Jan 20 David Josiah Brewer, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (d. 1910)
- Jan 23 Amanda Smith, American former slave, singer and evangelist, born in Long Green, Maryland (d. 1915)
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
80-89
Over 90