- May 4 Tyagaraja, Indian classical Carnatic music composer, born in Tiruvarur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu (d. 1847)
- May 7 Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia, Duchess of York and Albany, born in Charlottenburg, Germany (d. 1820)
- May 12 Manuel de Godoy 'Prince of the Peace', Spanish statesman, 1st Secretary of State of Spain, born in Badajoz, Spain (d. 1851)
- May 24 Ferdinand Franzl, German composer, born in Schwetzingen (d. 1833)
- May 24 Josef Schnabel, German composer, born in Naumburg am Queis, Silesia (d. 1831)
- May 25 Friedrich Johann Eck, German violinist and composer (Concertos pour violon), born in Mannheim, Germany (d. 1838)