Dec 23 John Davy, English composer, born at Creedy Bridge, Devon (d. 1824) Dec 25 Claude Chappe, French engineer (optical telegraph), born in Brûlon, France (d. 1805) Dec 28 John Molson, Canadian brewer (founded Montreal brewery Molsons), born in Moulton, England (d. 1836) Dec 31 Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, French admiral, born in Valensole, France (d. 1806) 1762 Famous Birthdays by Year 1764