- May 12 Louis Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, French Prince of the Bourbon House, born at the Palace of Versailles, France (d. 1785)
- May 14 Ludovico Manin, Venetian politician, last Doge of Venice (1789-97), born in Venice, Republic of Venice (d. 1802)
- May 25 Samuel Ward, American politician (31st and 33rd Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations), born in Newport, Rhode Island (d. 1776)