List of Famous people who died in 1939

Sir Frank Watson Dyson, KBE, FRS, FRSE was an English astronomer and Astronomer Royal who is remembered today largely for introducing time signals ("pips") from Greenwich, England, and for the role he played in proving Einstein's theory of general relativity.

Alexander Ferdinand Ludolf von Quast was a Prussian military officer, participant in the Franco-Prussian War and a general in the First World War. He commanded the German 6th Army during the Battle of the Lys of the Spring Offensive in 1918.

Karl Ernst Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen was a German General der Kavallerie during World War I and recipient of the order Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max. Richthofen was a great uncle of his more famous namesake Manfred von Richthofen, known as the Red Baron, who was his godson and named after him.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Matthew Nathan was a British soldier and colonial administrator, who variously served as the Governor of Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Hong Kong, Natal and Queensland. He was Under-Secretary for Ireland from 1914 to 1916, and was responsible, with the Chief Secretary, Augustine Birrell, for the administration of Ireland in the years immediately preceding the Easter Rising.

Herbert Thomas Mundin was an English character actor. He was frequently typecast in 1930s Hollywood films like The Adventures of Robin Hood as an older cheeky eccentric, a type helped by his jowled features and cheerful disposition.

Ettore Pais was an ancient historian, Latin epigrapher, and an Italian politician.

Thomas Arthur Dennis was an English professional snooker and English billiards player.

Alberto de Palacio y Elissague (1856-1939) was a Spanish engineer and architect born in Sare and grown up in Gordexola.

Bernhard Harms (1876-1939) was a German economist and one of the first professors to undertake research in the field of international economics. He founded the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany's leading economic research institute, in 1914. Harms was Chair of Economics at the University of Kiel and head of the Institute until he was dismissed from office in 1933 by Nazi Party officials.

George Barger FRS FRSE FCS LLD was a British chemist.