- Jan 1 Maurice Jacobson, British concert pianist, composer, and music publisher, born in London, England (d. 1976)
- Jan 1 Teinosuke Kinugasa, Japanese actor and director (Gate of Hell, A Page of Madness, Jujiro, Jigoku-mon), born in Mie Ken, Japan (d. 1982)
- Jan 1 Yitzhak Edel, Israeli composer, born in Warsaw (d. 1973)
- Jan 2 Dziga Vertov [Denis Kaufman], Russian director and film theorist (Man with a Movie Camera, Sjagai, Soviet!), born in Białystok, Russian Empire (d. 1954)
- Jan 2 Ernst-Lothar von Knorr, German composer, and music educator, born in Eitorf, Germany (d. 1973)
- Jan 2 Sir Lawrence Wackett, Australian aircraft engineer (d. 1982)
- Jan 3 Joe Falcaro, American bowler (National Match Game champion 1929-33), born in Lawrence, New York (d. 1951)
- Jan 4 Everett Dirksen, American politician (Sen-R-Ill) (d. 1969)
- Jan 5 Hendrik Algra, Dutch teacher, journalist, historian, and politician (ARP), born in Hurdegaryp, Netherlands (d. 1982)
- Jan 6 Abram Nicholas Pritzker, American businessman (Hyatt Hotels, McCall's magazine), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1986)
- Jan 6 Freerk Siemon Wolters, Dutch resistance fighter, born in Zuidwolde, Netherlands (d. 1945)
- Jan 7 Arnold Ridley, British actor and dramatist (The Ghost Train, Dad's Army), born in Bath, England (d. 1984)
- Jan 8 Arthur Ford, American psychic (d. 1971)
- Jan 8 Jaromir Weinberger, Czech-American composer (Bird's Opera), born in Prague, Austria-Hungary (d. 1967)
- Jan 8 Manuel Rojas, Chilean writer (Men of the South), born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (d. 1973)
- Jan 9 Warwick Braithwaite, New Zealand-British conductor, primarily of opera, born in Dunedin, New Zealand (d. 1971)
- Jan 11 Paddy Driscoll, American NFL quarterback and coach (Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears), born in Evanston, Illinois (d. 1968)
- Jan 12 David Wechsler, American psychologist (d. 1981)
- Jan 14 John dos Passos, American novelist (1919, Big Money, 42nd Parallel), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1970)
- Jan 15 Jacobo Ficher, Argentine composer, born in Odesa, Ukraine (d. 1978)
- Jan 16 Ruth Rose, American screenwriter (d. 1978)
- Jan 17 Harry Reser, American banjo player and bandleader (Sammy Kaye Show), born in Piqua, Ohio (d. 1965)
- Jan 18 Bill McGowan, American Baseball HOF umpire (AL 1925-54; 8 x World Series; 4 x MLB All-Star Games), born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 1954)
- Jan 18 C. M. Eddy, Jr., American writer, born in Providence, Rhode Island (d. 1967)
- Jan 18 Hans H. Holm, Norwegian poet (Jonsoknatt), born in Oslo, Norway (d. 1980)
- Jan 20 Elmer Diktonius, Finnish poet, composer, and musicologist (Janne Kubrik; Stenkol), born in Helsinki (d. 1961)
- Jan 20 George Burns [Nathan Birnbaum], American actor, comedian and singer (Oh God; Burns and Allen), born in NYC, New York (d. 1996)
- Jan 20 Isabel Withers, American actress (Possessed, Lady of Burlesque), born in Frankton, Indiana (d. 1968)
- Jan 20 Rolfe Sedan, American actor (Young Frankenstein, Ninotchka, George Burns Show), born in NYC, New York (d. 1982)
- Jan 21 J. Carrol Naish, American actor (Sahara; A Medal for Benny), born in NYC, New York (d. 1973)
- Jan 23 Alf Hall, South African cricket fast bowler (7 Tests, 40 wickets), born in Bolton, Lancashire, England (d. 1964)
- Jan 23 Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1919-64), born in Berg Castle, Luxembourg (d. 1985)
- Jan 25 Florence Mills [Winfrey], American cabaret singer, dancer and comedian, known as 'the Queen of Happiness', born in Washington, D.C. (d. 1927)
- Jan 25 John Moores, British businessman, born in Lancashire, England (d. 1993)
- Jan 29 Teddy Hoad, West Indies cricket batsman, captain (4 Tests; Barbados), born in Richmond, Saint Michael, Barbados (d. 1986)
- Jan 31 Sofya Yanovskaya, Russian mathematician (d. 1966)