- May 1 José de Alencar, Brazilian writer (O Guarani), born in Fortaleza, Ceará, Empire of Brazil (d. 1877)
- May 6 Phoebe Ann Coffin Hanaford, 1st female ordained minister in New England, born in Siasconset, Massachusetts (d. 1921)
- May 8 Louis Moreau Gottschalk, American pianist and composer, born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1869)
- May 9 Ciro Pinsuti, Italian pianist and composer, born in Sinalunga, Tuscany, Italy (d. 1888)
- May 12 Pavlos Carrer, Greek composer (Isabella d'Aspeno), born in Zakynthos (d. 1896)
- May 30 Levin Goldschmidt, German business law expert, born in Gdańsk, Poland (d. 1897)