- Jan 2 Gugliemo Libri [della Somaia], Italian mathematician and book collector (stole 30,000 books), born in Florence (d. 1869)
- Jan 3 Douglas William Jerrold, English writer, playwright and wit (Punch Mag), born in London, England (d. 1857)
- Jan 6 Henri Herz, Austrian pianist and composer, born in Vienna (d. 1888)
- Jan 9 Christopher Gustavus Memminger, Secy Treas (Confederacy) (d. 1888)
- Jan 15 Marjory Fleming, Scottish writer & poet, born in Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom (d. 1811)
- Jan 29 James Outram “the Bayard of India”, English general and administrator in India, born in Bulterley Hall, Derbyshire (d. 1868)