- Oct 2 William Ramsay, Scottish chemist who discovered noble gases (Nobel 1904), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 1916)
Emil Fischer (1852-1919)
Oct 9 German chemist, discovered Fischer esterification (Nobel Prize 1902), born in Euskirchen, Rhine Province
- Oct 15 Wilhelm Posse, German composer, born in Bromberg, Province of Posen (now Poland) (d. 1925)
- Oct 23 Jean-Louis Forain, French impressionist etcher and lithographer, born in Reims, France (d. 1931)
- Oct 31 Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman, American writer (Revolt of Mother), born in Randolph, Massachusetts (d. 1930)