- May 2 William Cleaver Francis Robinson, composer, dies at 63
- May 10 William Thomas Best, English organist and composer, dies at 70
- May 10 Andrés Bonifacio, Filipino revolutionary leader of 1896 Philippine revolt against Spain, dies at 33
- May 12 Ulrika "Minna" Cant-Johnstown, Finnish playwright, dies at 53
- May 12 Willem Roelofs, Dutch painter and lithographer, dies at 75
- May 21 Karol Mikuli, composer, dies at 77
- May 23 Aleko Konstantinov, Bulgarian writer (To Chicago & Back), dies at 34
- May 29 Julius von Sachs, German botanist and naturalist, dies at 64