- May 5 Frederik August Stoett, Dutch linguist (Dutch Proverbs), born in Leeuwarden, Netherlands (d. 1936)
- May 12 Charles Bordes, French composer, born in La Roche-Corbon, France (d. 1909)
- May 14 John Charles Fields, Canadian mathematician and founder of the Fields Medal, born in Hamilton, Ontario (d. 1932)
Bob Fitzsimmons (1863-1917)
May 26 English boxer (first 3-division world champion; Middleweight 1981-96, Light Heavyweight 1903, Heavyweight 1897-99), born in Helston, England
- May 27 Arthur Mold, English cricket fast bowler (England 3 Tests; 1,673 1st class wickets), born in Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire (d. 1921)
- May 27 Charles Wright, English cricket wicketkeeper (3 Tests, 1 x 50; Cambridge Uni CC, Nottinghamshire CCC), born in Harewood, Yorkshire, England (d. 1936)
- May 28 Georg Adler, Polish state economist, born in Poznań, Poland (d. 1908)
- May 31 Francis Younghusband, British journalist and explorer (1904 British expedition to Tibet), born in Murree, British India (d. 1942)
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
80-89
Over 90