List of Famous people who died in 1940

John Monk Saunders was an American novelist, screenwriter, and film director.

Ole Andreas Lilloe-Olsen was a Norwegian rifle shooter who competed in the early 20th century in rifle shooting. With his five gold medals and one silver medal, he is the Norwegian athlete with the most medals at the Summer Olympics. He participated in shooting at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp and won the gold medal in 100 m running deer, double shots and team 100 m running deer, single shots and team 100 m running deer, double shots. At the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris he defended the Olympic titles in 100 m running deer, double shots and team 100 m running deer, single shots and the silver medal in team 100 m running deer, double shots.

Heinrich Raphael Eduard Freiherr von Handel-Mazzetti was an Austrian botanist best known for his many publications on the flora of China and botanical explorations of that country. He was the cousin of novelist Enrica von Handel-Mazzetti (1871-1955).

George Fitzmaurice was a French-born film director and producer.

Ernest Willard Gibson was an American politician and lawyer from Vermont. A Republican, he served in both the United States House of Representatives (1923-1933) and United States Senate (1933-1940).