- Jan 15 Heinrich Vogl, German operatic heldentenor, born in Munich, Germany (d. 1900)
- Mar 5 Alphonse Hasselmans, Belgian-French harpist, composer (La Source), and educator (Paris Conservatoire, 1884-1912), born in Liège, Belgium (d. 1912)
- Apr 18 Wilhelm Gericke, Austrian composer, born in Schwanberg, Austria (d. 1925)
- May 12 Gabriel Fauré, French organist, composer (Requiem; Ballade), and educator (Paris Conservatoire, 1905-20), born in Pamiers, France (d. 1924)
- Jun 7 Leopold von Auer, Hungarian-American violinist, born in Veszprém, Hungary (d. 1930)
- Jul 6 Ángela Peralta, Mexican operatic soprano, harpist, pianist, and composer, born in Mexico City, Mexico (d. 1883)
- Aug 10 Abai Qunanbaiuli, Kazakh poet, composer and philosopher (d. 1904)
- Oct 12 Amintore Galli, Italian composer, born in Perticara, Italy (d. 1919)
- Oct 26 Hendrik Waelput, Flemish composer and conductor (Forest, Stella), born in Ghent, Belgium (d. 1885)
- Oct 30 Gustav Weber, Swiss organist, choral conductor, and composer, born in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland (d. 1887)
- Nov 14 Johann Ernst Perabo, composer