- May 2 Herman Willem Daendels, Dutch military leader (Brigadier-General) and politician (Governor-General of Dutch-East Indies, 1808-11; Governor-General of Dutch Gold Coast, 1811-15), dies at 55
- May 7 Leopold Koželuch, Czech composer, dies at 70
- May 8 Franz Ignaz Kaa, German composer, dies at 78
Paul Revere
May 10 Paul Revere, American silversmith and patriot who alerted the colonial militia to the approach of British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, dies at 83
