- Dec 1 Bernard Schmidt, German optical instrument maker (inventor of the Schmidt telescope), dies at 56
- Dec 2 James Henry Breasted, American Egyptologist and anthropologist, dies at 70
- Dec 2 Martha Carey Thomas, American educator, suffragist, linguist and second President of Bryn Mawr College, dies of a coronary occlusion at 78
- Dec 2 State of California uses gas chamber instead of hanging for 1st time: Robert Lee Cannon (29) and Albert Kessel (28) executed for role in Folsom Prison escape attempt resulting in murder of warden and guard (San Quentin State Prison. Marin County)
- Dec 3 Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom, fourth child and second daughter of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark, dies at 67
- Dec 4 Charles Richet, French physiologist (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1913 for work on anaphylaxis), dies at 85
- Dec 4 Hylton Philipson, English cricket wicketkeeper (5 Tests, 11 dismissals), dies at 69
- Dec 4 Johan Halvorsen, Norwegian violinist, conductor (Nationaltheatret Orchestra, 1899-1929), and composer (Bergensiana), dies at 71
- Dec 5 Frans Erens, Dutch literary critic (Years Gone By), dies at 78
- Dec 9 Walter Liggett, American crusading newspaper editor and muckraker (b. 1886)
- Dec 13 John Nicolson, cricketer (South African lefty batsman 1926-27), dies
- Dec 13 Victor Grignard, French chemist (Nobel 1912 - development of the Grignard reaction), dies at 64
- Dec 14 Stanley G. Weinbaum, American sci-fi writer (Martian Odyssey), dies at 33
- Dec 16 Thelma Todd, actress (Horse Feathers, Bohemian Girl), dies of 30
- Dec 17 Lizette Woodworth Reese, American poet (Branch of May, Tears), dies at 79
- Dec 18 Juan Vicente Gomez, Venezuelan general and dictator of Venezuela (1908-35), dies at 78
- Dec 20 Martin O'Meara, Australian WWI soldier and Victoria Cross honoree, dies at 50
- Dec 21 Kurt Tucholsky, German journalist/writer (Die Weltbühne), dies after taking sleeping tablets at 45
- Dec 24 Alban Berg, Austrian composer (Wozzeck; Lulu), dies of sepsis at 50
- Dec 25 Paul Bourget, French novelist and critic, dies at 83
- Dec 28 Clarence Day, American author (Life with Father), dies at 61
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide