James Wolfe (1727-1759)
Jan 2 British Army officer who defeated the French in Canada and captured Quebec, born in Westerham, England
- Feb 16 Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin, Austrian scientist (d. 1817)
- Mar 28 Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bayern (1745-77), born in Munich (d. 1777)
- Apr 3 Philippe-Lambert-Joseph Spruyt, Flemish painter and engraver, born in Ghent, Belgium (d. 1801)
- Apr 7 Michel Adanson, French botanist (d. 1806)
- May 10 Anne Robert Jacques Turgot, French economist and statesman (First Minister of State 1774-76), born in Paris, France (d. 1781)
- May 14 Thomas Gainsborough, English painter (Blue Boy), baptized
Horatio Gates (1727-1806)
Jul 26 British-American soldier (general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War), born in Maldon, England
- Aug 14 Henriette-Anne of France, twin daughter of king Louis XV, born in Palace of Versailles, France (d. 1752)
- Aug 14 Louise Élisabeth of France, twin daughter of king Louis XV, born in Palace of Versailles, France (d. 1759)
- Nov 1 Ivan Shuvalov, 1st Russian Minister of Education and founder of the Moscow University, born in Moscow (d. 1797)
- Nov 18 Philibert Commerçon, French naturalist, born in Châtillon-les-Dombes, France (d. 1773)
- Nov 26 Artemas Ward, American politician and soldier (major general during the American Revolutionary War), born in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts (d. 1800)
- Dec 22 William Ellery, US attorney and signer of the Declaration of Independence (Rhode Island), born in Newport, Rhode Island (d. 1820)