Jan 5 Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov, Russian count (helped Catherine the Great to the throne) and military commander (Battle of Çeşme), dies at 71 Jan 8 Messenger, horse that sired many great trotters, dies Dec 1807 Famous Deaths by Year Feb 1808 Famous People by Cause of Death Assassination Car Crash Hanging Killed in Action Plane Crash Poisoning