Birthdays in Music
- May 5 Johann Nepomuk Fuchs, Austrian composer, born in Frauental, Styria, Austria (d. 1899)
Jules Massenet
May 12 Jules Massenet, French composer (Manon, Le Cid), born in Montaud, France (d. 1912)

Jules Massenet
- May 13 Arthur Sullivan, English operatic composer (Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S Pinafore), born in London (d. 1900)