John Parker (captain)

John Parker (April 13, 1729 – September 17, 1775) was an American farmer, mechanic, soldier, and colonial militia officer who commanded the Lexington militia at the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775. This battle is widely considered to be the start of the American Revolutionary War.

Born in Lexington, Massachusetts, Parker was a veteran of the French and Indian War, serving as a sergeant in the provincial militia. By 1775, he was a respected member of the Lexington community and held the rank of captain in the town's militia.

On the morning of April 19, 1775, Parker and his militia confronted a large force of British Regulars under Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith on Lexington Green. The exact circumstances surrounding the first shot fired remain disputed, but Parker ordered his men to disperse after facing overwhelming odds. He is reported to have said, "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." He aimed to make a show of resistance, demonstrating the colonists' resolve, but did not intend for his men to actively engage in a full-scale battle at that time.

Following the retreat from Lexington Green, Parker rallied his men and participated in further skirmishes with the British forces as they marched towards Concord.

Parker suffered from tuberculosis, which likely contributed to his death a few months after the Battle of Lexington. He died on September 17, 1775, and is buried in the Old Burying Ground in Lexington. He is remembered as a symbol of colonial resistance and a key figure in the early stages of the American Revolution. His leadership, however controversial due to the outcome of the Battle of Lexington, is nonetheless viewed as pivotal in galvanizing colonial resistance.