- Jan 3 Henry Darcy, French hydraulic engineer (Darcy's Law), dies at 54
- Jan 3 Rachel Félix, Swiss-born French singer and actress in tragedies (mistress of Napoleon III), dies of tuberculosis at 36
- Jan 5 Joseph Radetzky von Radetz, Czech field marshal, dies at 91
- Jan 7 Willem Broes, Dutch vicar and theologist (Textenrol), dies at 91
- Jan 8 Friedrich Karl Kuhmstedt, composer, dies at 48
- Jan 9 Anson Jones, 5th and last President of Texas commits suicide at 59
- Jan 27 Gerrit van der Linde "The Schoolmaster" Dutch poet, dies at 49
- Jan 30 Coenraad Jacob Temminck, Dutch zoologist (b. 1778)
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning