- Dec 1 Alexandra, Danish princess, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1925)
- Dec 1 Alfred Cellier, British conductor (Glibert and Sullivan) and composer (Dorothy), born in South Hackney, London (d. 1891)
- Dec 4 Franz Xavier Wernz, German Superior General of the Society of Jesus, born in Rottweil, Württemberg (d. 1914)
- Dec 5 Frederick Bridge, English organist and composer, born in Oldbury, Worcestershire (d. 1924)
- Dec 18 Lujo Brentano, German economist and social refermer, born in Aschaffenburg, Germany (d. 1931)
- Dec 22 Izydor Lotto, Polish violinist & composer, born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 1927)