- Oct 2 Alexander P. Stewart, American Lieutenant General (Confederate Army), born in Rogersville, Hawkins County, Tennessee (d. 1908)
- Oct 7 Richard Heron Anderson, Lt Gen (Confederate Army), (d. 1879)
- Oct 7 William Still, African-American abolitionist, businessman and conductor of the Underground Railroad, born in Shamong Township, New Jersey (d. 1902)
- Oct 11 Angelo Mariani, Italian composer, born in Ravenna, Italy (d. 1873)
George Williams (1821-1905)
Oct 11 English philanthropist and founder of YMCA, born in Dulverton, West Somerset, England
Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902)
Oct 13 German politician, anthropologist and pathologist (cell pathology), born in Schivelbein, Prussia
- Oct 16 Albert Franz Doppler, Austrian flautist and composer, born in Lemberg, Austrian Empire (now Lviv, Ukraine) (d. 1883)
Collis P. Huntington (1821-1900)
Oct 22 American business tycoon and railroad executive (Central Pacific Railroad, Southern Pacific Railroad), born in Harwinton, Connecticut
- Oct 30 Cenobio Paniagua, Mexican composer, born in Tlalpujahua, Michoacán, Mexico (d. 1882)