Meet the American who led 77 Minutemen against 700 Redcoats at Battle of Lexington: Captain John Parker

Captain John Parker, 46, was crippled by tuberculosis when he led 77 volunteers against 700 British regulars in the Battle of Lexington, igniting the American Revolution.

The "shot heard ‘round the world," as Ralph Waldo Emerson later called it, was about to ignite the American Revolution and change world history forever.  "I think Parker and his men were obviously scared. I think they would have been angry and motivated, too."   "If they mean to have a war, let it begin here." — Captain John Parker "We trust in God." — Lexington militia's vow The armed American citizens turned back the British soldiers in Concord. His heroics gave rise to the Declaration of Independence the following year. "He stood as a sick and weakened but powerful man for the rights of all Americans." — Bill Poole, historian Kerry J. Byrne is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.

Parker was 45 years old and riddled with tuberculosis. He roused his weakened body just after midnight, when the cry reached Lexington and echoed by a network of alarm riders through the Massachusetts countryside.