- Feb 4 Nikolay Umov, Russian physicist and mathematician known for discovering the Umov-Poynting vector and Umov effect, born in Simbirsk, Russian Empire (d. 1915)
- Feb 9 Wilhelm Maybach, German engineer, designer of 1st Mercedes
- Feb 9 Whitaker Wright, English mining tycoon (d. 1904)
- Feb 10 Mildred Childe Lee, daughter of confederate General Robert E. Lee
- Feb 10 Charles Beresford, British admiral and politician (d. 1919)
- Feb 10 Ira Remsen, American chemist (d. 1927)
- Feb 14 Julian Scott, American artist and Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, born in Johnson, Vermont (d. 1901)
- Feb 18 Wilson Barrett, British manager, actor, and playwright (The Sign of the Cross), born in Essex, England (d. 1904)
- Feb 24 Luigi Denza, Italian composer (Funiculì, Funiculà), born in Castellammare di Stabia (d. 1922)
- Feb 26 William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Wild West hunter and showman (Buffalo Bill's Wild West), born in Davenport Iowa (d. 1917)
- Feb 27 Joaquin Valverde Durán Spanish composer, born in Badajoz (d. 1910)