- Dec 1 Peter Lange-Müller, Danish composer and pianist, born in Frederiksberg, Denmark (d. 1926)
- Dec 9 Emma Abbott, American soprano, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1891)
- Dec 13 Fred Grace, English cricket all-rounder (1 Test; first time 3 bros play a Test [with WG & EM Grace]; Gloucestershire CCC), born in Bristol, England (d. 1880)
- Dec 13 Iver Holter, Norwegian conductor (Oslo Philharmonic, 1886-1911), and composer (St. Hans Kveld), born in Gausdal, Norway (d. 1941)
- Dec 16 Fred Morley, English cricket fast bowler, (4 Tests, 16 wickets, BB 5/56; Nottinghamshire CCC), born in Sutton-in-Ashfield, England (d. 1884)
- Dec 21 Zdenek Fibich, Czech classical composer (Šárka, The Bride of Messina), born in Všebořice (d. 1900)
- Dec 22 Constantin Fahlberg, Russian chemist who discovered Saccharin (artificial sweetener), born in Tambov, Russia (d. 1910) [1]
- Dec 29 Tomás Bretón, Spanish conductor and composer, born in Salamanca, Spain (d. 1923)
- Dec 30 John Milne, British geologist (developed the first modern seismograph), born in Liverpool, England (d. 1913)
Greatest Generation
Silent Generation
Baby Boomer
Generation X
Millennial
Generation Z