- May 1 Jacob Albright, German-American Christian leader, founder of Albright's People (Evangelical Association), born in Fox Mountain, Pennsylvania (d. 1808)
- May 6 François Andrieux, French playwright, born in Strasbourg, France (d. 1833)
- May 15 Maria Theresia von Paradis, composer
- May 18 Charles Duquesnoy, South Netherlands composer and singer, born in Beuzet (d. 1822)
- May 20 William Thornton, British-American architect (Capitol Building in Washington, D.C), born in Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands (d. 1828)
- May 22 Gervais-François Couperin, French composer (d. 1826)
- May 23 António da Silva Leite, Portuguese composer, born in Porto, Portugal (d. 1833)
William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806)
May 28 British Prime Minister (Tory: 1783-1801, 1804-06), born in Hayes, Kent, England
