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.

Meet the American who mapped the US-Mexico border, Gen. William Emory, shaped nation in war and in peace

William H. Emory served in two wars but is best remembered for leading the expedition that mapped out the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border and shaped images of the Southwest.

Meet the American who wrote the moon-landing software: Margaret Hamilton, computer whiz mom

The Apollo 11 moon mission provided a giant leap for womankind, thanks to the remarkable intellect of young software engineer and mother Margaret Hamilton.

Meet the American who was the 'working man' Founding Father, Irish ironsmith George Taylor

George Taylor of Ireland arrived in America as an indentured laborer at a Pennsylvania iron furnace. He became one of three men born in Ireland to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Meet the American who first achieved sainthood, Elizabeth Ann Seton, mother, educator, miracle worker

Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, the first American-born saint, converted to Catholicism, became a prominent educator and faith leader, and was credited with three miracles.

Meet the American who mended defective infant hearts, Vivien Thomas, high-school educated cardiac surgeon

High-school-educated Vivien Thomas spent decades as a research assistant to renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Alfred Blalock. Yet Thomas made up for his lack of pedigree with talent.

Meet the American who made flying safe, Archie League, daredevil pilot and first air-traffic controller

Archie W. League is widely considered the first air-traffic controller. He began by directing aircraft with flags in 1929, then helped make flying safe for millions of travelers.

Meet the American who taught the Tuskegee Airmen to fly, pioneer pilot Charles 'Chief' Anderson

Meet Charles A. "Chief" Anderson, lead instructor at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in World War II. This American gave the famous Tuskegee Airmen their first taste of flight.

Weekend read: Trending Lifestyle stories from this past week in case you missed them

This weekend, soak up some top Lifestyle headlines that you may have missed — including odd and viral news, stories of faith, food, American history, travel, pets and much more.

Meet the American who gave birth to the civil rights movement, Alberta King, 'gave her all for Christ'

Alberta Williams King, mother of Martin Luther King Jr., lived a life of deep faith punctuated by deep anguish; she lost both sons tragically and then was shot dead in 1974.