Famous People Who Died In 1885

Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 1885. This list includes people like Ulysses S. Grant, Victor Hugo, Charles George Gordon, Muhammad Ahmad, Schuyler Colfax and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, military leaders, poets and n who died in 1885. This list includes people from United States and many more countries.
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 1 
Ulysses S. Grant
(Civil War Hero and the 18th President of the United States)
Ulysses S. Grant
50
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 27, 1822
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Point Pleasant, Ohio, United States
Died: July 23

The 18th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant held office from 1869 to 1877. He led the Union Army as Commanding General of the United States Army during the American Civil War and was a war hero. As president, he stabilized the post-war national economy and created the Department of Justice. Historians generally recognize his presidential accomplishments.

 2 
Victor Hugo
(French Writer of the Romantic Movement Best Known for His Novel 'Les Misérables' and Play 'Ruy Blas')
Victor Hugo
28
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 26, 1802
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Besançon, Doubs, France
Died: May 22

Victor Hugo was a French poet, dramatist, and novelist of the Romantic movement. Regarded as one of the best-known and greatest French writers of all time, Victor Hugo wrote abundantly during his career that spanned over six decades. Thanks to his works, such as Hernani and Cromwell, Victor Hugo was one of the leading figures of the Romantic literary movement.

 3 
Louis Riel
(Canadian Political Leader and Founder of the Province of 'Manitoba')
Louis Riel
32
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 22, 1844
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Red River Colony, Canada
Died: November 16

Louis Riel was a Canadian politician. He is credited with founding the province of Manitoba. He holds a significant place in the history of the Métis people as he served as their political leader in pre-Manitoba Northwest Territories. Louis Riel is regarded as a folk hero by the Métis and other Canadian minorities for his efforts to defend their rights.

 4 
William Henry Vanderbilt
(Businessman)
William Henry Vanderbilt
4
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: May 8, 1821
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Died: December 8
 5 
Charles George Gordon
(British Army Officer Who Led The 'Ever Victorious Army' in China)
Charles George Gordon
3
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 28, 1833
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: London
Died: January 26

Charles George Gordon was a British administrator and Army officer. He is best remembered for his work as the commander of the Ever Victorious Army in China, which played a key role in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion. The force, under Gordon's command, was also able to defeat much larger forces, earning him the nickname Chinese Gordon.

 6 
Thomas C. Durant
2
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: February 6, 1820
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Lee, Massachusetts, United States
Died: October 5
 7 
Schuyler Colfax
(17th Vice President of the U.S.A)
Schuyler Colfax
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: March 23, 1823
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: New York City
Died: January 13
 8 
Thomas A. Hendricks
(21st Vice President of the U.S.A.)
Thomas A. Hendricks
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 7, 1819
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Fultonham
Died: November 25
 9 
Martin Delany
(Journalist)
Martin Delany
2
Birthdate: May 6, 1812
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Charles Town, Virginia, United States
Died: January 24
 10 
Ferdinand II of Portugal
(Prince)
Ferdinand II of Portugal
0
Birthdate: October 29, 1816
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Palais Coburg, Vienna, Austria
Died: December 15
 11 
Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern
(Politician)
Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 7, 1811
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Krauchenwies, Germany
Died: June 2
 12 
Alfonso XII of Spain
(King of Spain)
Alfonso XII of Spain
1
Birthdate: November 28, 1857
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
Died: November 25
 13 
Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia
(Military officer)
Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 20, 1828
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: June 15
 14 
Zuo Zongtang
Zuo Zongtang
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 10, 1812
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Xiangyin County
Died: September 5
 15 
Moses Montefiore
(Financier)
Moses Montefiore
1
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: October 24, 1784
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Livorno, Italy
Died: July 28
 16 
Muhammad Ahmad
(Ruler of Sudan from 1881 to 1885)
Muhammad Ahmad
10
Birthdate: August 12, 1844
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dongola, Sudan
Died: June 22

Born to a Sudanese shipbuilder, Muhammad Ahmad grew up to become a Sufi religious leader. His war against the Ottoman-Egyptian rule and his capture of Khartoum led him to establish a vast Islamic state. Named the first Mahdi, he was one of the rare African rulers to defeat the British.

 17 
Irvin McDowell
(Officer)
Irvin McDowell
2
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 15, 1818
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Columbus
Died: May 4
 18 
Susanna Moodie
(British-Born Canadian Author Who Wrote About Her Experiences as a Settler in Canada)
Susanna Moodie
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 6, 1803
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bungay, England
Died: April 8

English-Canadian writer Susanna Moodie is best known for her realistic depictions of her life in “the bush” or the wilderness of Canada, which was a British colony back in her time. Her most popular work remains Roughing it in the Bush. She had initially also penned several children’s stories.

 19 
Carl Spitzweg
(Painter)
Carl Spitzweg
0
Birthdate: February 5, 1808
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Germering, Germany
Died: September 23
 20 
Peter Christen Asbjørnsen
(Norwegian Writer and Scholar)
Peter Christen Asbjørnsen
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 15, 1812
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Oslo, Norway
Died: January 5

Legendary Norwegian folklore writer Peter Christen Asbjørnsen is best remembered for his collaboration with Jorgen Engebretsen Moe. Initially a zoologist, he went on several expeditions but later deviated to theology and eventually to mythology and folk tales. Asbjørnsen and Moe re-told many old Norse tales, such as The Three Billy-Goats Gruff.

 21 
John McCloskey
(American Archbishop)
John McCloskey
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 10, 1810
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: October 10

The second archbishop of New York, John McCloskey was also the first American cardinal. An accident in which he was buried under logs and had almost gone blind led to a spiritual awakening in him, and he stepped into priesthood. He also notably renewed the construction of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

 22 
Jens Peter Jacobsen
(Danish Novelist, Poet, and Scientist)
Jens Peter Jacobsen
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: April 7, 1847
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Thisted, Denmark
Died: April 30

Danish author Jens Peter Jacobsen is remembered for pioneering the Naturalist mode of writing in Danish literature. While he initially translated some of Charles Darwin’s works, he later penned novels such as Marie Grubbe: A Lady of the Seventeenth Century. He is also known for his poems, which were released posthumously.

 23 
Sidney Gilchrist Thomas
(Inventor)
Sidney Gilchrist Thomas
0
Birthdate: April 16, 1850
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: London, England
Died: February 1
 24 
Bharatendu Harishchandra
(Indian Poet, Writer and Playwright)
Bharatendu Harishchandra
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: September 9, 1850
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Varanasi, India
Died: January 6

Bharatendu Harishchandra was a 19th-century Hindi writer and poet who is regarded as the father of Hindi literature as well as Hindi theater. He authored numerous dramas, travel accounts, and life sketches. He mainly wrote about the issues faced by Indians, such as poverty, exploitation, and class struggles. A nationalist, he urged Indians to prioritize Indian-made products. 

 25 
Rosalía de Castro
(Spanish Poet)
Rosalía de Castro
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 24, 1837
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Died: July 15

Legendary Galician poet Rosalía de Castro was a significant figure of the Galician Romantic movement and mostly wrote on themes such as nostalgia and melancholy. She had also written quite a few novels but remains best known for her poetry collections such as Cantares Gallegos and Follas novas.

 26 
George B. McClellan
6
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 3, 1826
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: October 29

George McClellan was the governor of New Jersey from 1878 to 1881. He had previously been part of the Mexican–American War. He later quit the Army to serve railroads but re-joined during the American Civil War. He eventually became the commanding general and formed the Army of the Potomac.

 27 
John B. Jervis
(American Cvil Engineer who Helped Build Canals, Railroads, and Water-Supply Systems in the United States. )
John B. Jervis
1
Listed In: Engineers
Birthdate: December 14, 1795
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Huntington, New York, United States
Died: January 12

John B. Jervis was an American civil engineer best remembered for his work during the antebellum era. Jervis is credited with designing and overseeing the construction of five of the country's earliest railroads. Apart from designing America's first locomotive, Jervis also contributed as the chief engineer of three important canal projects.  

 28 
Sarah Miriam Peale
(Painter)
Sarah Miriam Peale
1
Birthdate: May 19, 1800
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: February 4
 29 
Francis Hincks
(Businessman)
Francis Hincks
0
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: December 14, 1807
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Cork, Ireland
Died: August 18
 30 
Thomas Andrews
(Physicist, Chemist)
Thomas Andrews
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: December 19, 1813
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Belfast, Ireland
Died: November 26
 31 
Nikolay Yakovlevich Danilevsky
(Philosopher)
Nikolay Yakovlevich Danilevsky
0
Birthdate: December 10, 1822
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Obertse, Russia
Died: November 19

Russian naturalist and philosopher Nikolay Yakovlevich Danilevsky is remembered for opposing Darwin’s theory of evolution and for mingling Russian nationalism with his own study of natural history. He likened cultures to species and claimed that each culture was unique and could not pass on cultural traits to other cultures.

 32 
Fleeming Jenkin
(Scottish Engineer and Inventor of the 'Cable Car' or 'Telpherage')
Fleeming Jenkin
0
Birthdate: March 25, 1833
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dungeness, England
Died: June 12

After a 10-year stint as an engineer working to construct and install submarine telegraph cables, Fleeming Jenkin published reports establishing the ohm as the unit of electrical resistance. He is also remembered as the inventor of the cable car and taught at institutes such as the University of Edinburgh.

 33 
Robert A. Toombs
(Politician)
Robert A. Toombs
1
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: July 2, 1810
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Wilkes, Georgia, United States
Died: December 15
 34 
Helen Hunt Jackson
(Poet)
Helen Hunt Jackson
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 15, 1830
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 12
 35 
Samuel Birch
(Egyptologist)
Samuel Birch
0
Birthdate: November 3, 1813
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: St Mary Woolnoth, London, England, United Kingdom
Died: December 27
 36 
Abdul Momin
(24th Sultan of Brunei)
Abdul Momin
0
Birthdate: May 21, 1788
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Died: May 30
 37 
James W. Marshall
(Joiner, Carpenter)
James W. Marshall
1
Birthdate: October 8, 1810
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Hopewell Township
Died: August 10
 38 
Clarina I. H. Nichols
(Journalist)
Clarina I. H. Nichols
1
Birthdate: January 25, 1810
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Townshend, Vermont, United States
Died: January 11
 39 
Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs
(German Pathologist Known for His Research of Kidney and Liver Diseases)
Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: March 24, 1819
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Aurich, Germany
Died: March 14

Pathologist Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs, considered the founder of experimental pathology, had initially been an optician and had also taught at several universities. His contributions include studies in kidney and liver diseases and research on multiple sclerosis. He also released the first German book on nephrology.

 40 
Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg
(Second-Eldest son of Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg)
Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: October 23, 1814
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Schleswig, Duchy of Schleswig, Germany
Died: November 27
 41 
Hugh Rose, 1st Baron Strathnairn
(Field marshal)
Hugh Rose, 1st Baron Strathnairn
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 6, 1801
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: October 16
 42 
Anthony W. Gardiner
(Politician)
Anthony W. Gardiner
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 24, 1820
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Southampton County, Virginia, United States
Died: 1885 AD
 43 
Iwasaki Yatarō
(The Founder of 'Mitsubishi' Multinational Company)
Iwasaki Yatarō
1
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: January 9, 1835
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Tosa, Japan
Died: February 7

Born into a samurai noble family of Japan, industrialist Iwasaki Yatarō started his career working for the Yamauchi clan. He later joined a shipping company and later transformed it into Mitsubishi, which formed strong ties with the Japanese government and prospered, branching out to other industrial ventures.

 44 
Yap Ah Loy
(Malaysian Politician)
Yap Ah Loy
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: March 14, 1837
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Huiyang District, Guangdong, China
Died: April 15

Yap Ah Loy was an important leader of early Kuala Lumpur. He is credited with developing the city as a mining and commercial centre, serving as Kuala Lumpur's third Kapitan China. Kuala Lumpur eventually became the capital city of Malaysia and it houses a street in the heart of Chinatown, which is named after Yap Ah Loy.

 45 
Ernest Trumpp
(Philologist, Linguist)
Ernest Trumpp
0
Birthdate: March 13, 1828
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Ilsfeld, Germany
Died: April 5
 46 
Iosif Kotek
(Violinist, Composer Remembered for his association with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
Iosif Kotek
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: November 6, 1855
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kam'yanets'-Podil's'kyi, Ukraine
Died: January 4
 47 
Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen
(Politician)
Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen
0
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: August 4, 1817
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Millstone, New Jersey, United States
Died: May 20
 48 
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury
(British Politician, Philanthropist, and Social Reformer)
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 28, 1801
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England
Died: October 1
One of the most significant industrial reformers of Britain, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury was instrumental in bringing about many reforms, such as the 1845 Lunacy Act, which treated the mentally ill with compassion. His Mines Act prohibited all women and all children below 10 from mining work.
 49 
Ferdinand Hiller
(German Composer, Conductor, Pianist, Writer and Music Director)
Ferdinand Hiller
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 24, 1811
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Frankfurt, Germany
Died: May 10

Ferdinand Hiller was a German pianist, composer, conductor, music director, and writer. He is credited with composing six operas and a violin concerto among other works. He also worked as a lecturer and writer and contributed immensely to several newspapers. Some of his published works are Musikalisches und Persönliches and Goethes musikalisches Leben.

 50 
Pavel Pavlovich Demidov, 2nd Prince of San Donato
(Former Industrialist)
Pavel Pavlovich Demidov, 2nd Prince of San Donato
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: October 9, 1839
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Weimar, Germany
Died: January 26