- Feb 18 Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim, German royal astrologer, physician and theologian, dies at 48
- Mar 1 Bernardo Accolti [Unico Aretino], Italian writer (Virginia), dies at 70
- Mar 26 Georg Tannstetter, Austrian scientist (b. 1482)
- May 4 John Houghton, English monk, first of the Carthusian Martyrs, hung, drawn and quartered at the Tower of London
- Jun 22 John Fisher, British Catholic clergyman (Bishop of Rochester, 1504-35; Cardinal, 1535), martyr, and saint, dies by execution ordered by Henry VIII at about 65
- Jul 6 Sir Thomas More, philosopher, author (Utopia) and statesman, executed (beheaded) for treason at 57
- Jul 10 Jacob Van Campen, Reconstruction bishop, beheaded
- Jul 11 Joachim I Nestor, ruler (Brandenburg), dies at 51
- Aug 10 Ippolito de' Medici, ruler of Florence (poisoned) (b. 1509)
- Sep 23 Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg, Queen of Gustav I of Sweden, dies at 21
- Nov 1 Francesco Sforza, Italian ruler (Milan), dies
- Dec 31 William Skeffington, Lord Deputy of Ireland (b. 1465)