- Jan 27 Joachim Frederick, German Prince-Elector of Brandenburg (1598-1608), born in Cölln (d. 1608)
- Feb 14 Johann Pistorius, German theologist & historian, born in Nidda, Germany (d. 1608)
- May 5 Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter, English politician, born in St Mary the Great, Cambridge, England (d. 1623)
- Jun 24 Robert Parsons, English jesuit (A Letter Disclosure), born in Nether Stowey, Somerset, England (d. 1610)
- Jul 4 Murad III, Ottoman Sultan (1574-95), born in Manisa, Ottoman Empire (d. 1595)
Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)
Dec 14 Danish astronomer (set new standards for astronomical observations), born in Knudstrup, Scania, Denmark
- Dec 22 Kuroda Yoshitaka, Japanese daimyō, born in Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan (d. 1604)