- Jan 1 Paul Adam, French writer (L'enfant d'Austerlitz), dies at 57
- Jan 3 Zygmunt Janiszewski, Polish mathematician, dies at 31
- Jan 4 Benito Pérez Galdós, Spanish novelist (Episodios Nacionales), dies at 76
- Jan 7 Edmund Barton, Australian politician, 1st Prime Minister of Australia (1901-03), dies at 70
- Jan 14 John Francis Dodge, American automobile pioneer (Co-Founder of Dodge Brothers Company), dies at 55
- Jan 16 Reginald De Koven, American composer, dies at 60
- Jan 20 Georg Lurich, Estonian wrestler and strongman of the early 20th century, dies at 43
- Jan 25 Amedeo Modigliani, Italian painter and sculptor (Reclining Nude), dies at 35
- Jan 26 Matthias Enzberger, German minister of finance, murdered