- Jan 1 Martinus Beijerinck, Dutch microbiologist & botanist (1st to coin the name virus), dies at 79
- Jan 3 Joseph Joffre, French army Chief of Staff (Indo China, WWI Battle of Marne), dies at 78
- Jan 4 Arthemus "Art" Acord, American silent film actor and rodeo champion (Arizona Kid, Hard Fists), commits suicide by poison at 40
- Jan 4 Roger Connor, American Baseball Hall of Fame 1st baseman (career HR record 138 stood for 23 years; NL batting champion 1885; NL RBI leader 1889; NY Giants), dies of a stomach illness at 73
- Jan 9 Claude Anet [Jean Schopfer], French writer (La fille perdue), dies at 62
- Jan 10 Oscar Fetrás [Otto Faster], German composer (Mondnacht auf der Alster), dies at 76
- Jan 11 James Milton Carroll, American Baptist pastor, leader, historian, and author (b. 1852)
- Jan 14 William Ernst Johnson, British mathematician (exchangability), dies at 72
- Jan 21 Felix Blumenfeld, Russian composer, conductor and pianist, dies at 67
- Jan 22 Alfred Maudslay, British administrator who pioneered Maya archaeology, dies at 80
- Jan 22 Alma Rubens, American actress (Humoresque), dies of Lobar pneumonia and bronchitis at 33
- Jan 23 Anna Pavlova, Russian prima ballerina and choreographer (Diaghilew, Dying Swan), dies from pneumonia at 49
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning