- May 2 William Cleaver Francis Robinson, composer, dies at 63
- May 10 Andrés Bonifacio, Filipino revolutionary leader of 1896 Philippine revolt against Spain, dies at 33
- May 10 William Thomas Best, English organist and composer, dies at 70
- May 12 Minna Canth, Finnish playwright (Anna Liisa) and social activist, dies of a heart attack at 53
- May 12 Willem Roelofs, Dutch painter and lithographer, dies at 75
- May 21 Karol Mikuli, Polish composer, pianist, and friend of Frederic Chopin, dies at 77
- May 23 Aleko Konstantinov, Bulgarian writer (To Chicago & Back), dies at 34
- May 29 Julius von Sachs, German botanist and naturalist, dies at 64
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning