- Feb 13 John Reid [Robertson], British Army General, composer, and founder of the chair of music at the University of Edinburgh, born in Inverchroskie, Scotland (d. 1807)
- Apr 1 Pieter Hellendaal, Dutch violinist, organist (Pembroke College & Chapel of Peterhouse, both in Cambridge, England), teacher, and composer (Glees), born in Rotterdam, Dutch Republic (now Netherlands) (d. 1799)
- Apr 24 Johann Philipp Kirnberger, German music theorist and violist, baptized in Saalfeld, Germany (d. 1783)