- Jan 12 Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff, Austrian earl/prince/diplomat
- Jan 13 Friedrich Müller, painter and dramatist (d. 1825)
- Jan 16 Vittorio Alfieri, Italian count, dramatist and poet (Maria Stuarda) who is considered the founder of Italian tragedy, born in Asti, Italy (d. 1803)
- Jan 19 Isaiah Thomas, American printer/editor/publisher/historian
- Jan 29 King Christian VII of Denmark (d. 1808)