- Dec 16 Alphonse Daudet, French writer (Tartarin sur les Alpes), dies at 57
- Dec 18 Carlo A Alfieri, Italian Member of parliament, dies at 70
- Dec 28 William Corby, American Catholic priest and President of the University of Notre Dame, dies at 64
- Dec 29 William James Linton, American wood engraver and political reformer. (b. 1812)