- Jan 1 Jan-Lauwryn Krafft, Flemish artist and engraver, dies at 73
- Jan 10 Charles Cressent, French court furniture maker, dies at 82
- Jan 28 John Wainwright, English composer and organist, dies at 44
- Feb 1 Sir Robert Rich, 4th Baronet, British cavalry officer, dies at 82
- Feb 2 Robert Smith, English mathematician (b. 1689)
- Feb 8 George Dance the Elder, English architect (b. 1695)
- Feb 17 Arthur Onslow, English politician (Speaker of the House of Commons 1728-61), dies at 76
- Mar 1 Hermann Samuel Reimarus, German philosopher & writer, dies at 74
- Mar 3 Nicola Antonio Porpora, Italian composer, and voice teacher, dies at 81
- Mar 14 Vigilio Blasio Faitello, Italian composer, dies at 58
- Mar 18 Lawrence Sterne, Irish writer (Tristram Shandy, Sentimental Journey France & Italy), dies at 54
- Mar 21 Jan Jacob Mauricius, Dutch governor-general of Suriname (1742-51), dies at 75
- Apr 7 Michel Mathieu, French violist and composer, dies at 78
- Apr 9 Sarah Fielding, English writer (The Adventures of David Simple), dies at 58
- Apr 19 Filippo della Valle, Italian sculptor, dies at about 70
- Apr 19 Giovanni Antonio Canal [Canaletto], Italian painter and printmaker (Rialto), dies at 70
- Apr 29 Georg Brandt, Swedish chemist and minerologist, dies at 73
- May 16 Cornelis Writer, fleet supervisor, dies at about 81
- May 27 Johann M Fleischmann, German/Dutch stamp/letter designer, dies
- May 30 Eggert Ólafsson, Icelandic explorer, writer (Reise igiennem Island - Travels In Iceland), and language conservationist, drowns with his wife when their boat capsizes at 41
- Jun 8 Johann Winckelmann, German archaeologist (History of Ancient Art), dies at 50
- Jun 15 James Short, Scottish mathematician and manufacturer of telescopes, dies at 57
- Jun 19 Benjamin Tasker, Governor of Maryland (b. 1690)
- Jul 4 Willem van Haren, Dutch poet (Suicide), dies at 58
- Jul 6 Conrad Beissel, German born American religious leader and composer (founded Ephrata community), dies at 78
- Jul 11 Jose Melchior de Nebra Blascu, Spanish composer, dies at 66
- Jul 24 Nathanial Lardner, English theologian (b. 1684)
- Aug 17 Vasily Kirillovich Trediakovsky, Russian poet (b. 1703)
- Sep 2 Antoine Deparcieux, French mathematician, dies at 64
- Oct 1 Robert Simson, Scottish mathematician (Simson line), dies at 80
- Oct 28 Michel Blavet, French court flautist/composer, dies at 68
- Oct 31 Francesco Maria Veracini, Italian opera composer, dies at 78
- Nov 1 (Pieter) Pierre van Maldere, Flemish violinist and composer, dies at 39
- Nov 4 Johan Lulofs, Dutch physicist, philosopher and astronomer, dies at 57
Thomas Pelham-Holles (1693-1768)
Nov 17 1st Duke of Newcastle, British Prime Minister (Whig: 1757-62), dies at 75
