- May 3 Josef Rudolf Zavrtal, Czech composer, dies at 73
- May 4 George Washington Hewitt, American composer, dies at 82
- May 14 Earnest E Kummer, German mathematician (surface of Kummer), dies at 83
- May 14 Johan T Buys, Dutch lawyer, dies at 65
- May 23 Anton von Schmerling, Austrian statesman, dies at 87