- May 2 August Pauly, German writer (Real Encyclopedia), dies at 48
- May 3 Thomas Hood, English poet and composer (The Song of the Shirt), dies at 45
- May 11 Carl Filtsch, Transylvanian composer and pianist child prodigy, dies of tuberculosis at 14
- May 12 August Wilhelm Schlegel, German poet, translator and critic, dies at 77
- May 12 János Bacsanyi, Hungarian poet (b. 1763)
- May 15 Samuel Wiselius, Dutch lawyer patriot and writer (helped dismantle Dutch East India Co), dies at 76
- May 19 Maria EJ Versfelt, mistress of general Moreau/marshal Ney, dies at 68
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning