1808 in literature

• January 3 – The Examiner, "A Sunday paper, on politics, domestic economy, and theatricals", is established in London by John Hunt, edited by his brother Leigh Hunt.
• January 30 – The Théâtre St. Philippe opens in New Orleans, United States.^[1]
• September 20 – The first Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London, established in 1732, is destroyed by fire along with most of the scenery, costumes and scripts. Rebuilding begins in December.

Uncertain date

• Charles Thomson's Bible Translation from the Greek (Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Covenant) is printed by Jane Aitken in Philadelphia (United States).^[2]

• January 27 – David Strauss, German theologian and writer (died 1874)
• February 5 – Carl Spitzweg, German poet (died 1885)
• February 16 – Gustave Planche, French critic (died 1857)
• March 16 – Hannah T. King, British-born American writer and pioneer (died 1886)
• March 22 – Caroline Norton (née Caroline Sheridan), English poet, pamphleteer and social reformer (died 1877)
• March 25 – José de Espronceda, Spanish poet (died 1842)
• April 18 – Teréz Karacs, Hungarian novelist, poet and memoirist (died 1892)
• May 22 – Gérard de Nerval, French poet and translator (died 1855)^[9]
• June 17 – Henrik Wergeland, Norwegian poet (died 1845)^[10]
• June 21 – John Critchley Prince, English poet (died 1866)
• June 22 – Xavier Marmier, French writer and translator (died 1892)
• June 28 – James Spedding, English author and editor (died 1881)
• July 10 – Solomon Northup, African-American memoirist (died c. 1864)
• September 9 – Wendela Hebbe, Swedish playwright, journalist and novelist (died 1899)
• October 21 – Julia Maitland, English writer on India and children's writer (died 1864)
• November 2 – Jules Amédée Barbey d'Aurevilly, French novelist (died 1889)
• Unknown date – Harriet Ward, English non-fiction and fiction writer (died 1873)

• February 12 – Anna Maria Bennett, English novelist (born c. 1760)
• April 4 – Lady Charlotte Murray, English writer and botanist (born 1854)
• May 2 – John Collins, English poet and entertainer (born 1742)
• September 5 – John Home, Scottish poet (born 1722)
• September 13 – Saverio Bettinelli, Italian man of letters (born 1718)
• September 25 – Richard Porson, English classicist (born 1757)
• November 4 – Melchiore Cesarotti, Italian poet (born 1730)
• December 28 – John Duncan, English miscellanist (born 1721)
• c. November/December – Nólsoyar Páll, Faroese merchant and poet, lost at sea (born 1766)

Uncertain date

• Maria Riddell – West Indies-born poet, naturalist and travel writer (born 1772)