- Jan 7 Heinrich von Stephan, German Director of the Post service who introduced the telephone to Germany, born in Stolp, Pomerania, Kingdom of Prussia
- Jan 11 James Ronald Chalmers, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Halifax County, Virginia (d. 1898)
- Jan 14 John Bullock Clark Jr., American general (Confederate Army), born in Fayette, Missouri (d. 1903)
- Jan 17 Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria (d. 1903)
- Jan 18 Edward Ferrero, American ballroom operator and Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Granada, Spain (d. 1899)
- Jan 20 Piet Joubert, South African general and vice-president, born in Prince Albert, British Cape Colony (d. 1900)
- Jan 26 Mary Mapes Dodge, American writer (Hans Brinker & the Silver Skates), born in NYC, New York
- Jan 28 Henry Brevard Davidson, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1899)