Most commentators consider Marcel Mauss ( 1872 – 1950 ), nephew of the influential sociologist Émile Durkheim, to be the founder of the French anthropological tradition.

Born in Stockholm, Alfred Nobel was the fourth son of Immanuel Nobel ( 1801 – 1872 ), an inventor and engineer, and Andriette Ahlsell Nobel ( 1805 – 1889 ).

* 1872 – Archduke Joseph August of Austria, Austrian field marshal ( d. 1962 )

* 1790 – William Wentworth, Australian explorer and politician ( d. 1872 )

* 1872 – Richard Willstätter, German chemist, Nobel Prize Laureate ( d. 1942 )

* 1872 – George E. Stewart, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient ( d. 1946 )

* 1872 – Frederick Maurice, English theologian ( b. 1805 )

* 1872 – William Frederick Horry, English convicted murderer ( b. 1843 )

* 1872 – Haakon VII of Norway ( d. 1957 )

* 1942 – Richard Willstätter, German chemist, Nobel Prize laureate ( b. 1872 )

* 1872 – Sri Aurobindo, Indian writer and philosopher ( d. 1950 )

* 1872 – Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein ( d. 1956 )

* 1872 – Aubrey Beardsley, English illustrator and author ( d. 1898 )

In 1872 he ran for election to fill Tennessee's new at – large seat in the House of Representatives.

* 1805 – Frederick Denison Maurice, English theologian ( d. 1872 )

* 1872 – Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Indian-Islamic scholar and translator ( d. 1953 )

* 1861 – American Civil War: in order to help pay for the war effort, the United States government levies the first income tax as part of the Revenue Act of 1861 ( 3 % of all incomes over US $ 800 ; rescinded in 1872 ).

* 1872 – Kijūrō Shidehara, Japanese politician, 44th Prime Minister of Japan ( d. 1951 )

* Rangers First Centenary 1872 – 1972: 1

* 1872 – Bill Johnson, American bassist ( d. 1972 )

* 1915 – Alexander Scriabin, Russian composer ( b. 1872 )

* Alexandra Feodorovna ( Alix of Hesse ) ( 1872 – 1918 ), wife of Nicholas II of Russia

* Alexandra Kollontai ( 1872 – 1952 ), Russian politician

He married thirdly in 1872 to Circassian HH Gevherin Nedaxe Kadın Efendi ( Caucasus, 8 July 1856 – Ortaköy Palace, Ortaköy, Constantinople, 20 September 1894 ), and had one child.

Also in 1872, a protracted quarrel began to fester between Bismarck and Count Harry von Arnim, a career diplomat and the imperial ambassador to France.

* January 10 – Harry von Tilzer, American songwriter ( b. 1872 )

* June 17 – Harry Nelson Pillsbury, American chess champion ( b. 1872 )

* October 26 – Harry Payne Whitney, American businessman and horse breeder ( b. 1872 )

They had seven children ( five sons and two daughters ): Eliza Arabella Garfield ( 1860 – 63 ); Harry Augustus Garfield ( 1863 – 1942 ); James Rudolph Garfield ( 1865 – 1950 ); Mary Garfield ( 1867 – 1947 ); Irvin M. Garfield ( 1870 – 1951 ); Abram Garfield ( 1872 – 1958 ); and Edward Garfield ( 1874 – 76 ).

* Harry Burns Hutchins, President of the University of Michigan from 1910 to 1920, Professor of Law and Dean of the University of Michigan Law School, organizer of the Cornell University Law School, Director of Owosso Public Schools during 1871 and 1872.

* James Harry Brooke ( 1872 – 1873 )

* Harry Tate ( 1872 – 1940 )

Educated by private tutors and at the exclusive Brearley School in New York City, at age 21 she married the extremely wealthy sportsman Harry Payne Whitney ( 1872 – 1930 ).

Sir Harry Pateshall Colebatch CMG ( 29 March 1872 – 12 February 1953 ), better known as Sir Hal Colebatch, was a long-serving and occasionally controversial figure in Western Australian politics.

Harry Nelson Pillsbury ( December 5, 1872 – June 17, 1906 ) was a leading chess player.

* Aaron Harry Gorson ( 1872 – 1933 ), American artist

According to The New York Times, Dunn " had difficulties with Harry Lott ", a Rapides Parish member of the Louisiana House of Representatives ( 1868 – 1870, 1870 – 1872 ).

* Harry Payne Whitney ( 1872 – 1930 )

Juana María de los Dolores de León Smith, Lady Smith ( 27 March 1798 – 12 October 1872 ) was the wife of General Sir Harry Smith, Governor of the Cape Colony.

From 1850 to the 1890s a small number of sword swallowers performed in the UK such as Martha Mitchell ( c 1855 ) and Signor Benedetti ( 1863 – 95 ), and in the US, including Lawson Peck ( c 1850s ), Ling Look ( c 1872 ), Signor Wandana ( died May 9, 1875 ), and Harry Parsons ( died December 1880 ).

In 1850s the jobless father of six, ( Joseph ) sold paraffin oil from a barrow cart around the streets of Hockley, The company was then founded by Joseph Lucas in 1860 with his son Harry, joining his father around 1872, aged 17.

* Harry Lee ( USMC ) ( 1872 – 1933 ), US Marine Corps General and military governor of Santo Domingo

" Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green " is the title of an English song, composed by the London music hall and broadside songwriter Harry Clifton ( 1832 – 1872 ), and first published in 1864.