Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829)
Aug 1 French naturalist (Lamarckian evolution), born in Paris
- Aug 10 "Fanfan" Alexandrine-Jeanne d'Étiolles, daughter of the courtesan Madame de Pompadour, born in Paris, France (d. 1754)
- Aug 11 Johann Gottlieb Schwencke, German bassoonist, born in Breitenau, Saxony (now Germany) (d. 1823)
- Aug 12 Rowland Hill, preacher
- Aug 25 Johann G von Herder, German philosopher, theologist and poet, born in Morąg, Poland (d. 1803)