- Jan 2 Frederick William IV, King of Prussia (1840-61) and Germany (1849-61), dies at 65
- Jan 17 Lola Montez, Irish-born adventurer (b. 1821)
- Jan 18 John Heathcoat, English inventor of lace-making machinery, dies at 77
- Jan 22 Giovanni Battista Velluti, Italian castrato singer 'the last great castrato', dies at 80
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning