- Jan 5 Theodoor Verstraete, Flemish painter and etcher, born in Ghent, Belgium (d. 1907)
- Jan 6 (Franz) Xaver Scharwenka, German pianist, educator, and composer (Mataswintha), born in Samter, Grand Duchy of Posen, Kingdom of Prussia (now Szamotuły, Poland) (d. 1924)
- Jan 6 Eduard Bernstein, German Marxist (New Era), born in Schöneberg, Prussia (d. 1932)
- Jan 10 John Wellborn Root, American architect, born in Lumpkin, Georgia (d. 1891)
- Jan 11 J. C. Arthur, American botanist (studied parasitic fungi rusts), born in Lowville, New York (d. 1842)
- Jan 11 Philipp von Ferrary, French philatelist (compiled world's most complete stamp collection), born in Paris, France (d. 1917)
- Jan 13 Leon Francis Victor Caron, French- Australian composer (Caron Opera Company), born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France (d. 1905)
- Jan 14 Jean de Reszke, Polish tenor, born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 1925)
- Jan 14 Pierre Loti, French naval officer and novelist, born in Rochefort, France (d. 1923)
- Jan 15 Mihail Eminesco [Eminovici], Romanian poet (Samanul Dionis), born in Botoșani, Romania (d. 1889)
- Jan 15 Sofia Kovalevskaya, Russian mathematician, born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1891)
- Jan 17 Alexander Sergeyevich Taneyev, Russian composer, born in St Petersburg, Russia (d. 1918)
- Jan 18 Seth Low, American politician (d. 1916)
Edward Smith (1850-1912)
Jan 27 English naval captain of the RMS Titanic, born in Hanley, Staffordshire
- Jan 27 John Collier, English painter (Lady Godiva) and writer, born in Paddington, England (d. 1934)
Samuel Gompers (1850-1924)
Jan 27 American labor union leader (American Federation of Labor), born in London, England
- Jan 29 Ebenezer Howard, English pioneer of garden cities, born in London, England (d. 1928)
- Jan 29 Lawrence Hargrave, English-born aviation pioneer and inventor (box kite), born in London (d. 1915)
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
80-89
Over 90