David Livingstone
May 1 David Livingstone, British physician/explorer (Africa), dies at 60
David Livingstone
- May 6 José Antonio Páez, President of Venezuela (1830-35), dies at 82
John Stuart Mill
May 8 John Stuart Mill, English philosopher, political economist and utilitarian, dies of erysipelas at 66
John Stuart Mill
- May 13 Kaspar Masek, composer, dies at 79
- May 14 Gideon Brecher, Austrian physician and writer (b. 1797)
- May 15 Alexander J Cuza, monarch of Moldavia/Romania, dies at 53
- May 20 Sir George-Étienne Cartier, French-Canadian statesman (b. 1814)
- May 26 August Conradi, German organist and composer, dies at 51