- Jan 1 Satyendra Nath Bose, Indian physicist (Bose–Einstein statistics), born in Calcutta, British India (d. 1974)
- Jan 1 Shitsu Nakano, Japanese supercentenarian (d. 2007)
- Jan 2 Robert Nathan, American poet and novelist (Portrait of Jennie), born in New York City (d. 1985)
- Jan 3 ZaSu Pitts, American actress (Life With Father; Dames; Wedding March), born in Parsons, Kansas (d. 1963)
- Jan 4 Manuel de Abreu, Brazilian physician (d. 1962)
- Jan 4 Wesley LaViolette, American composer and teacher, born in St. James, Minnesota (d. 1978)
- Jan 7 José Rozo Contreras, Colombian saxophonist, conductor, and composer, born in Bochalema, Colombia (d. 1976)
- Jan 8 St Maximilian Kolbe, Polish martyr (d. 1941)
- Jan 9 Henryk Stazewski, Polish abstract painter and graphic artist, born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 1988)
- Jan 10 Reginald Denham, English writer and director (Obsession, The Bad Seed), born in London, England (d. 1983)
- Jan 11 Jaroslav Vogel, Czech composer and conductor (Brno Philharmonic, 1959-62; Ostrava Orchestra 1919- 43), born in Pilsen, Kingdom of Bohemia (d. 1970)
- Jan 12 Georges Carpentier, French boxer (world light heavyweight champion; 1920-22; 1st $1m gate v J Dempsey), born in Lievin, France (d. 1975)
- Jan 15 Edmond Rubbens, Belgian attorney and politician, born in Zele, Belgium (d. 1938)
- Jan 16 Guy Chamberlin, American College/Pro Football HOF end (Uni of Nebraska; 5×NFL C'ship; First-team All-Pro 1920), born in Blue Springs, Nebraska (d. 1967)
- Jan 16 Irving Mills [Isadore Minsky], American jazz music publisher, manager (Duke Ellington, 1926-48), singer and lyricist, born in Odessa, Ukraine (d. 1985)
- Jan 18 Wilhelm H. C. Tenhaeff, Dutch parapsychologist, born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 1981)
- Jan 20 Harold Gray, American cartoonist (created Little Orphan Annie), born in Kankakee, Illinois (d. 1968)
Walter Piston (1894-1976)
Jan 20 Jr., American two-time Pulitzer Prize winning composer (Incredible Flutist), music theorist, and educator (Harvard, 1926-60), born in Rockland, Maine
- Jan 22 Charles Morgan, English writer (Fountain) (d. 1958)
- Jan 22 Matt McHugh, American actor (Taxi, Freaks, Barbary Coast, Innocent Affair), born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania (d. 1971)
- Jan 23 Remy Angenot, Flemish actor (Met den helm geboren, Patriot, Idiot), born in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium (d. 1964)
- Jan 27 Albert Patterson, American politician and attorney, born in New Site, Alabama (d. 1954)
- Jan 27 Fritz Pollard, early African American NFL star (1920-26) and coach, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1986)
- Jan 30 Marcel Canneel, Flemish painter (Reuzenstoet) (d. 1953)
- Jan 31 Isham Jones, American musician, bandleader ("Star Dust") and songwriter ("It Had To Be You"; "I'll See You in My Dreams"), born in Coalton, Ohio (d. 1956) [1]
- Jan 31 Percy Helton, American actor (Jail Busters, Harbor of Missing Men), born in New York City (d. 1971)
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
80-89
Over 90