- Feb 5 Dwight Lyman Moody, American evangelist (Moody Church), born in Northfield, Massachusetts (d. 1899)
- Feb 7 James Murray, Scottish lexicographer and philologist (Oxford English Dictionary), born in Denholm, Scotland (d. 1915)
- Feb 9 José Burgos, Filipino Catholic priest (advocated for greater Filipino self-determination), born in Vigan, Philippines (d. 1872)
- Feb 13 Valentin Zubiaurre, Spanish composer (Ferdinand Set), and educator, born in Garay, Biscay, Spain (d. 1914)
- Feb 17 Francis Jay Herron, American Major General (Union Army), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1902)
- Feb 17 Samuel van Houten, Dutch politician and philosopher (child labor laws), born in Groningen, Netherlands (d. 1930)
- Feb 24 Rosalía de Castro, Santiago de Compostela Galician writer and poet ('Séculos Escuros') (d. 1885)
- Feb 26 Charles Woeste, Belgian count, Minister of Justice, born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1922)