- Jan 2 Ernst Barlach, German writer and artist, born in Wedel (d. 1938)
- Jan 2 Tex Rickard, American boxing promoter and entrepreneur (founder NHL New York Rangers; builder third incarnation of Madison Square Garden, NYC), born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 1929)
- Jan 3 Henry Eichheim, American composer (Bali -Symphonic Variations), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1942)
- Jan 3 Henry Handel Richardson [Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson], Australian novelist (Richard Mahoney), born in East Melbourne, Australia (d. 1946)
- Jan 4 Percy Pitt, English composer (BBC), born in London (d. 1932)
- Jan 6 Gustav Bauer, Chancellor of Germany, born in Ozyorsk, Russia (d. 1944)
- Jan 7 Gordon Hewart, British judge "Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done" (Lord Chief Justice 1922-40), born in Bury, England (d. 1943)
- Jan 8 Miguel Primo de Rivera, Spanish dictator (1923-30), born in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain (d. 1930)
- Jan 9 Joseph Strauss, American civil engineer (chief engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 1938)
- Jan 11 Alexander Stirling Calder, American sculptor (d. 1945)
- Jan 12 Karel Burian (also Carl Burrian),Czech operatic tenor, born in Rousínov, Moravia, Austrian Empire (d. 1924)
- Jan 13 Henryk Opieński, Polish violinist, conductor, choral director, composer (Zygmunt August and Barbara), and musicologist (Moniuszko), born in Kraków (d. 1942)
- Jan 13 Ross Granville Harrison, American biologist, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1959)
- Jan 14 Sir George Pearce, Australian politician, born in Mount Barker, Australia (d. 1952)
- Jan 15 Johan Peter Koch, Danish captain & explorer (Greenland), born in Vestenskov, Denmark (d. 1928)
- Jan 15 Pierre S. du Pont, American businessman, born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 1954)
- Jan 16 Jimmy Collins, American Baseball HOF 3rd baseman (World Series 1903 Boston Americans; NL HR leader 1898 Boston Beaneaters) and manager (Boston Americans 1901–06), born in Niagara Falls, NY (d. 1943)
- Jan 16 Wilhelm Normann, German chemist (hydrogenated liquid fat creating trans fat), born in Petershagen Germany (d. 1939)
- Jan 16 Willie Simms, American jockey (US Champion Jockey by wins 1893, 94; Kentucky Derby 1896, 98; Preakness Stakes 1898; Belmont Stakes 1893, 94), born in Augusta, Georgia (d. 1927)
- Jan 20 Guillaume Lekeu, Belgian composer (Épithalame), born in Heusy, Belguim (d. 1894)
- Jan 22 Charles Arnold Tournemire, French organist and composer, born in Bordeaux, France (d. 1939)
- Jan 23 William Morgan, American physical education instructor and inventor of "mintonette" (now known as volleyball), born in Lockport, New York (d. 1942)