Famous Birthdays
- May 3 Alexis Clairaut, French mathematician (Clairaut's theorem), born in Paris (d. 1765)
- May 6 Charles Batteux, French philosopher, born in Alland'Huy-et-Sausseuil, Ardennes (d. 1780)
- May 25 John Stuart, 3rd earl of Bute, Prime Minister of Great Britain (1760-63), born in Parliament Square, Edinburgh, Midlothian (d. 1792)
Famous Deaths
- May 20 Thomas Sprat, English writer (b. 1635)