- Jan 7 Theodor Aufrecht, German linguist, Indologist, and translator (Rigveda's Hymns), born in Leschnitz, Prussian Silesia (d. 1907)
- Jan 8 Alfredo Carlo Piatti, Italian composer, born in Bergamo, Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Austrian Empire (d. 1901)
- Feb 7 Joaquin Gaztambide, Spanish composer (Una vieja), born in Tudela, Spain (d. 1870)
- Feb 15 Theodor Uhlig, German composer and violinist, born in Wurzen, Kingdom of Saxony (d. 1853)
- Feb 27 Eugene Gautier, French violinist, composer, and pedagogue, born in Vaugirard, France (d. 1878)
- Mar 7 Victor Masse, French composer, born in Lorient, France (d. 1884)
- Mar 31 Rafael Hernando, Spanish composer of zarzuelas, born in Madrid, Spain (d. 1888)
- Apr 26 Jan Albert van Eijken, Dutch composer and organist, born in Amersfoort, Netherlands (d. 1868)
- May 16 Eduard Hille, German composer and conductor, born in Wahlhauſen, Kingdom of Hanover (d. 1891)
- May 27 Henry Wylde, English composer and conductor, born in Bushey, Hertfordshire (d. 1890)
- May 27 Joachim Raff, German-Swiss composer, born in Lachen, Switzerland (d. 1882)
- Jun 18 Henry David Leslie, British choral and orchestral conductor, and composer, born in London, England (d. 1896)
- Jul 16 Luigi Arditi, Italian violinist and composer, born in Crescentino, Italy (d. 1903)
- Aug 5 Johann Georg Herzog, German composer and organist, born in Hummendorf, ingdom of Bavaria (now Germany) (d. 1909)
- Aug 15 Wilhelm Rust, German musicologist and composer, born in Dessau, Germany (d. 1892)
- Oct 5 Hans Hampel, Czech composer, born in Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia (now Czech Republic) (d. 1884)
- Oct 13 Carl Martin Reinthaler, German composer, born in Erfurt, Germany (d. 1896)
- Nov 7 Edouard Gregoir, Belgian composer, born in Turnhout, Belgium (d. 1890)
- Dec 10 César Franck, Belgian composer and organist (Symphonic Variations), born in Liège, Belgium (d. 1890)
- Dec 15 Edward Stephen, Welsh musician and composer, born in Maentwrog, Merionethshire, Wales (d. 1885)
- Dec 16 Charles Edward Horsley, British organist, conductor and composer, born in London, England (d. 1876)
- Dec 27 John Roberts, Welsh composer, minister and poet, born in Aberystwyth, Wales (d. 1877)