- Jan 10 Abraham Louis-Breguet, French clock maker, born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland (d. 1823)
- Jan 15 John Aikin, English doctor and writer, born in Kibworth Harcourt, United Kingdom (d. 1822)
- Jan 19 Johann Bode, German astronomer (Titius–Bode Law), born in Hamburg, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) (d. 1826)