- Jan 1 Frederick Muhlenberg, American statesman (d. 1801)
- Jan 10 Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine, British Lord Chancellor, born in Edinburgh, United Kingdom (d. 1823)
- Jan 11 Johann Jakob Walder, composer
- Jan 24 Wybo Fijnje, Dutch politician, patriot, and journalist
- Jan 25 Johann Gottfried Vierling, German organist & composer, born in Metzels, Germany (d. 1813)
- Jan 31 Gerrit J Pijman, Dutch minister of War (1798-1800, 1803-06)