Famous Birthdays
- May 2 Henrik Steffens, Norwegian-German philosopher, born in Stavanger, Norway (d. 1845)
- May 3 Giuseppe Acerbi, Italian traveller and naturalist, born in Castel Goffredo, Milan, Italy (d. 1846)
- May 15 Klemens von Metternich, Austrian leading statesman (Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs 1809-48, host Congress of Vienna 1814-15), born in Coblenz, Archbishopric of Trier (d. 1859)
- May 19 Arthur Aikin, English mineralogist (d. 1854)
- May 26 Hans Georg Nägeli, Swiss composer, born in Wetzikon, Switzerland (d. 1836)
- May 29 Princess Sophia of Gloucester, great-granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain and niece of King George III, born in Mayfair, Middlesex (d. 1844)
- May 31 Ludwig Tieck, German writer, born in Berlin (d. 1853)
