- May 3 Michiel de Swaen, South Netherlands physician/poet, dies at 53
- May 9 Dietrich Buxtehude, German organist & composer, dies at about 69
- May 27 Marquise de Montespan, French mistress of Louis XIV of France (b. 1640)
- May 28 Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart, Marquise de Montespan, French mistress of King Louis XIV of France, dies at 66