- Aug 12 Abbott Handerson Thayer, painter/naturalist
- Aug 18 Benjamin Godard, French violinist, orchestral and opera composer (Symphonie légendaire; Jocelyn), born in Paris, France (d. 1895)
- Aug 23 William Ernest Henley, British poet, critic, and editor, born in Gloucester, England (d. 1903)
- Aug 27 Manuel Acuña, Mexican poet (Nocturno), born in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexic0 (d. 1873)
- Aug 29 Titus van Asch van Wijck, Dutch governor Suriname (1891-97), born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 1902)
- Aug 30 J. M. Dent, British publisher, born in Darlington, England (d. 1926)