- Jan 1 Francois Baudouin [Franciscus Balduinus], French lawyer and humanist (controversial Calvinist who converted to Catholicism), born in Arras, France (d. 1573)
- Mar 3 Matthias Flacius, Croatian Lutheran Protestant reformer, born in Labin, Venetian Republic (d. 1575)
- Aug 1 Sigismund II Augustus, King of Poland (1548-72), born in Kraków, Poland (d. 1572)
- Aug 10 Madeleine of Valois, French princess who briefly became Queen of Scotland after marrying James V, born in the St. Germain-en-Laye, Paris, France (d. 1537)
- Sep 13 William Cecil, 1st baron Burghley, English statesman, born in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England (d. 1598)