1942: Harrison Ford, actor famous for his role in the Indiana Jones films, was born in Chicago, Illinois.

1729: John Parker was born in Lexington, Massachusetts. Parker played a prominent role in the first battle of the War for Independence, as leader of the volunteer American militia known as the Minutemen. On the night of April 18, 1775, Parker received warning of the approach of the king's soldiers under Major John Pitcairn. Parker assembled about 70 volunteers to face the British. In the ensuing skirmish on Lexington Green on April 19, eight Americans were killed and ten were wounded. The Minutemen followed the British forces to Concord, sniping at them as they retreated. According to legend, the colonists adopted "Yankee Doodle" as their theme song. (Source: Library of Congress)