Famous People Who Died In 1881

Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 1881. This list includes people like Billy the Kid, Fyodor Dostoevsky, James A. Garfield, Alexander II of Russia, Benjamin Disraeli and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include philosophers, military leaders, journalists and poets who died in 1881. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Russia and many more countries.
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 1 
James A. Garfield
(20th President of United States (March 1881 - September 1881))
James A. Garfield
32
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 19, 1831
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Moreland Hills, Ohio, United States
Died: September 19

The 20th president of the United States, James A. Garfield began his career as an attorney. Born into poverty, he struggled throughout his childhood and youth to become a respected lawyer. He eventually entered politics and rose through the ranks to be elected the president. Unfortunately, he was assassinated less than seven months after he took office.

 2 
Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Best Known for His Novella Notes from The 'Underground')
Fyodor Dostoevsky
21
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 11, 1821
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: February 9
Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky is remembered as one of the pioneers of existentialism. He is best known for psychological and philosophical themes in his works, such as Crime and Punishment and The Idiot. He was arrested for being critical of Tsarist Russia and spent a 4-year prison term in Siberia.
 3 
Alexander II of Russia
(Emperor of Russia (1855 - 1881))
Alexander II of Russia
14
Birthdate: April 29, 1818
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: March 13

Alexander II of Russia was the Emperor of Russia, Grand Duke of Finland, and King of Poland from 1855 to 1881. He became known as Alexander the Liberator for his most significant reform, which was the Emancipation Reform of 1861. He is also credited with reorganizing the judicial system, abolishing corporal punishment, and imposing universal military service in Russia.

 4 
Mary Seacole
(Heroine of the Crimean War)
Mary Seacole
12
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 23, 1805
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica
Died: May 14

Mary Seacole was a British-Jamaican nurse, businesswoman, and healer. She played a major role during the Crimean War, providing aid for wounded servicemen and nursing them back to health. In 1991, Seacole was posthumously honored with the Jamaican Order of Merit. In 2004, she was named the greatest black Briton for her contribution during the war.

 5 
Marie Laveau
(American Voodoo Priestess and Herbalist)
Marie Laveau
10
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 10, 1801
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: June 15

Occultist and herbalist Marie Laveau was known as the Vodoo Queen of New Orleans. Though a hairdresser, she was chiefly known for her spiritual practices which she used to heal the sick and the poor. She has inspired several books, such as Robert Tallant's The Voodoo Queen.

 6 
Benjamin Disraeli
(British Prime Minister)
Benjamin Disraeli
9
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 21, 1804
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bloomsbury, London
Died: April 19

Benjamin Disraeli was a British politician who served two terms as prime minister of the UK. Disraeli is credited with playing a key role in the formation of the modern Conservative Party. Apart from being an influential politician, Benjamin Disraeli was also a prolific novelist; he wrote and published works of fiction even while serving as the prime minister.

 7 
Modest Mussorgsky
(Russian Composer Who was an Innovator of Russian Music in the Romantic Period)
Modest Mussorgsky
10
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: March 21, 1839
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Karevo, Russia
Died: March 28

Modest Mussorgsky was a Russian composer best remembered for being part of a renowned 19th-century Russian composers group known as The Five. An innovator of Russian music, Mussorgsky worked towards achieving a Russian musical identity that challenged the already established Western music, which was generally considered conventional at that time.

 8 
Jim Bridger
(Famous Mountain Man of the American Fur Trade Era)
Jim Bridger
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 17, 1804
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Died: July 17

Known as the ultimate American mountain man, Jim Bridger is remembered for his exploration of the Western United States. It is believed, the illiterate fur trader was the first white man to explore the Great Salt Lake and one of the first to visit Yellowstone. He also worked as a forest guide.

 9 
Ambrose Burnside
(United States Senator from Rhode Island (1875-81))
Ambrose Burnside
8
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: May 23, 1824
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Liberty, Indiana, United States
Died: September 13
 10 
Jenny von Westphalen
(Karl Marx's wife)
Jenny von Westphalen
3
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 12, 1814
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Salzwedel, Germany
Died: December 2
 11 
Sidney Lanier
(Musician)
Sidney Lanier
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 3, 1842
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Macon, Georgia, United States
Died: September 7
 12 
Spotted Tail
(Sioux leader)
Spotted Tail
4
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1823 AD
Birthplace: Fort Laramie, Wyoming, United States
Died: August 5
 13 
William Burges
(Architect)
William Burges
0
Listed In: Architects
Birthdate: December 2, 1827
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: London
Died: April 20

William Burges was a British architect and designer best remembered for building castles like Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch. Apart from designing castles, churches, and houses, William Burges also designed sculptures, metalwork, furniture, jewelry, and stained glass.

 14 
Samuel Palmer
(British Landscape Painter and Poet)
Samuel Palmer
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 27, 1805
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: London, England
Died: May 24
 15 
Louis Auguste Blanqui
(French Revolutionary and Political Activist Known for His Revolutionary Theory of 'Blanquism')
Louis Auguste Blanqui
0
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: February 8, 1805
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Puget-Theniers, France
Died: January 1

Louis Auguste Blanqui was a French socialist who gave rise to Blanquism, a form of radicalism. While he initially studied both medicine and law, he later stepped into politics. He had been imprisoned for more than three decades and died of a stroke after a political speech at age 75.

 16 
Matthias Jakob Schleiden
(German Botanist & Co-founder of 'Cell Theory')
Matthias Jakob Schleiden
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: April 5, 1804
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hamburg
Died: June 23

Matthias Jakob Schleiden was a German botanist who is credited with co-founding cell theory along with Rudolf Virchow and Theodor Schwann. He is also remembered for his service as a professor at the University of Dorpat from the mid 1860s.

 17 
Henri Vieuxtemps
(Belgian Composer and Violinist Known for Playing What Is Now Known as the ‘Vieuxtemps Guarneri')
Henri Vieuxtemps
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: February 17, 1820
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Verviers, Belgium
Died: June 6

Henri Vieuxtemps was a Belgian violinist and composer best remembered as one of the most important exponents of the Franco-Belgian school of violin. He is also famous for owning a legendary violin, which is now called the Vieuxtemps Guarneri del Gesù. This violin, which was built by Giuseppe Guarneri, is counted among the finest examples of the craftsmanship of Guarneri.

 18 
John C. Pemberton
(Officer)
John C. Pemberton
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 10, 1814
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: July 13
 19 
Robert Patterson
(Officer)
Robert Patterson
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 12, 1792
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Cappagh
Died: August 7
 20 
John Gould
(Ornithologist)
John Gould
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: September 14, 1804
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lyme Regis, United Kingdom
Died: February 3
 21 
George Edmund Street
(Architect)
George Edmund Street
0
Listed In: Architects
Birthdate: June 20, 1824
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Woodford, England
Died: December 18
 22 
Nikolai Rubinstein
(Former pianist, conductor, and composer)
Nikolai Rubinstein
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: July 2, 1835
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: March 23
 23 
Prince August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
(Prince)
Prince August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: June 13, 1818
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: July 26
 24 
Pierre Napoléon Bonaparte
(French Nobleman, Revolutionary and Politician Who Played a Key Role in the French Revolution (1789–99))
Pierre Napoléon Bonaparte
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: October 11, 1815
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: April 7

Pierre Napoléon Bonaparte was a French nobleman, politician, and revolutionary. He played an important role during the Revolutions of 1848, serving as a member of the Constituent Assembly. He also played a prominent role in helping his cousin Louis Napoleon become the first president of France.

 25 
Johan Vilhelm Snellman
(Finnish Nationalist Philosopher and Statesman)
Johan Vilhelm Snellman
0
Birthdate: May 12, 1806
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: July 4

Finnish statesman Johan Vilhelm Snellman was a major figure of the Fennoman movement that was geared toward establishing Finnish as a national language, replacing Swedish. He had been both a professor and a senator, and has switched the Finnish monetary standard from rubles to marks.

 26 
Sophia Perovskaya
(Revolutionary)
Sophia Perovskaya
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 13, 1853
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: April 15
 27 
Rudolf Hermann Lotze
(Philosopher)
Rudolf Hermann Lotze
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 21, 1817
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bautzen, Germany
Died: July 1
 28 
Theobald Boehm
(Inventor)
Theobald Boehm
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: April 9, 1794
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Died: November 27
 29 
Caroline Amalie of Augustenburg
(Queen)
Caroline Amalie of Augustenburg
1
Birthdate: June 28, 1796
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
Died: March 9
 30 
August Å enoa
(Croatian Novelist)
August Å enoa
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 14, 1838
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
Died: December 13

Author August Šenoa is credited with leading Croatian literature from Romanticism to Realism. Also considered the "father of the Croatian novel," he studied law but later deviated to writing. He introduced the genre of the historical novel in Croatia and penned iconic works such as Pirates of Senj.

 31 
Nikolay Pirogov
(Physician, Scientist)
Nikolay Pirogov
1
Listed In: Physicians
Birthdate: November 25, 1810
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: December 5
Known for his pioneering use of field surgery, physician Nikolay Pirogov was the first to use anaesthesia in a field operation. A pioneer in the use of ether, too, he started his medical education at 14 and later taught surgery as a professor. He also reduced limp amputations significantly with his techniques.
 32 
Thomas François Burgers
(Former State President of the South African Republic)
Thomas François Burgers
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 15, 1834
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Graaff-Reinet, South Africa
Died: December 9

As a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, Thomas François Burgers questioned the authenticity of the events in the Bible and was even suspended once. As the president of Transvaal, he was infamous for letting the British annex his kingdom. He spent his final days in poverty.

 33 
James Thomas Fields
(Publisher)
James Thomas Fields
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 31, 1817
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
Died: April 24
 34 
Karl Weyprecht
(Austro-Hungarian Explorer and Navy Officer)
Karl Weyprecht
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 8, 1838
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Darmstadt, Germany
Died: March 29

Karl Weyprecht was an Austro-Hungarian explorer. He served as an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Navy and played an important role in the Austro-Sardinian War. He also achieved popularity as an Arctic explorer and co-led the Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition of 1872-1874 along with Julius von Payer. In 1875, Karl Weyprecht was honored with the prestigious Royal Geographical Society's Gold Medal.

 35 
John Quidor
(Painter)
John Quidor
0
Birthdate: January 26, 1801
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Tappan, New York, United States
Died: December 13
 36 
Jacques Collin de Plancy
(Writer)
Jacques Collin de Plancy
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 28, 1793
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Plancy-l'Abbaye, France
Died: 1881 AD
 37 
Aleksey Pisemsky
(Novelist)
Aleksey Pisemsky
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 23, 1821
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ramenye, Russia
Died: February 2
 38 
Nikolai Kibalchich
(Revolutionary)
Nikolai Kibalchich
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 19, 1853
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Krolevetsky Uyezd, Ukraine
Died: April 3
 39 
Henri Étienne Sainte-Claire Deville
(Chemist)
Henri Étienne Sainte-Claire Deville
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: March 11, 1818
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Died: July 1

Born to a French diplomat, Henri Étienne Sainte-Claire Deville initially studied medicine but later deviated to chemistry. He taught chemistry at the Sorbonne and also found a way to produce large-scale metallic aluminium economically through what was known as the Deville process. He also worked extensively on platinum.

 40 
Countess Franziska Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
(Regent)
Countess Franziska Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
0
Birthdate: August 8, 1813
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Vienna, Austrian Empire
Died: February 5
 41 
Romolo Gessi
(Italian Soldier and Explorer Who Mapped Out the Last Unexplored Part of the Nile)
Romolo Gessi
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 30, 1831
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ravenna, Italy
Died: May 1

Romolo Gessi, also known as Gessi Pasha, was not just an Italian soldier but also an explorer who participated in the exploration of the Nile. He also became the first to circumnavigate Uaganda’s Lake Albert Nyanza. As a soldier, he served the British Empire in Sudan and the Crimea.

 42 
Arthur O'Shaughnessy
(Poet)
Arthur O'Shaughnessy
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 14, 1844
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, England
Died: January 30
 43 
Carl Culmann
(Structural ngineer)
Carl Culmann
0
Listed In: Engineers
Birthdate: July 10, 1821
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bad Bergzabern, Germany
Died: December 9
 44 
Sargon I
(King)
Sargon I
0
Birthplace: Assur
Died: 1881 AD
 45 
Franz von Dingelstedt
(Poet)
Franz von Dingelstedt
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 30, 1814
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Halsdorf, Germany
Died: May 15
 46 
Thomas Carlyle
(Philosopher)
Thomas Carlyle
8
Birthdate: December 4, 1795
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Died: February 5
Initially a math teacher, Thomas Carlyle later abandoned the profession when a sudden spiritual awakening led him to writing. His parents wanted him to become a clergy, but he ended up becoming one of the greatest Victorian essayists and authors ever, known for works such as Sartor Resartus.
 47 
Edward John Trelawny
(British Biographer and Novelist Known for His Friendship With the Romantic Poets 'Percy Bysshe Shelley' and 'Lord Byron')
Edward John Trelawny
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 13, 1792
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London, England
Died: August 13

Edward John Trelawny was a British biographer, novelist and adventurer. He is famous for his friendship with Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron. Handsome and dashing, he joined the Royal Navy at the age of thirteen, later writing about his experiences in Adventures of a Younger Son. His other well-known work is Recollections of the Last Days of Shelley and Byron.

 48 
Auguste Mariette
(Scholar)
Auguste Mariette
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 11, 1821
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Died: January 18
 49 
James Starley
(Inventor)
James Starley
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 21, 1830
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Albourne, England
Died: June 17
 50 
Pellegrino Matteucci
(Italian Explorer Known for His Expeditions to Africa)
Pellegrino Matteucci
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: October 12, 1850
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ravenna, Italy
Died: August 8

Italian explorer Pellegrino Matteucci scripted history by becoming the first European to cover the entire African continent north of the Equator. A qualified doctor, he aspired to be a missionary in Africa. He, unfortunately, succumbed to a severe fever that he had contracted while traveling.