Throughout history, some figures have become famous for their leadership, their beauty, or their courage in battle. Others have risen to fame simply because they have interesting stories.The people on this list didnt invent objects that changed the world or write prize-winning novels. They werent renowned movie stars, industrialists, or television chefs.Olive Oatman was a Mormon teenager who was enslaved by Native Americans after they slaughtered her family. Ignaz Semmelweis was one of the first physicians to discover that handwashing prevents infection. And Grady Stiles Jr. was a sideshow performer who was arrested for murder and then killed in a hit arranged by his wife.These were simply ordinary people with extraordinary stories that put their names in history books.The Interesting Story Behind The Human Head Preserved In A JarCity Hall of Lisbon/FacebookThe purported head of Diogo Alves on display at the University of Lisbon alongside other anatomical specimens.Inside the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon, a wide-eyed human head floating in a jar of formaldehyde sits on display. As the story goes, it belongs to Diogo Alves, a serial killer who was arrested in Portugal and executed in 1841.Alves was likely born in Spain around 1810, but he moved to Lisbon when he was in his 20s. Little is known about his life until October 1839, when he was arrested for murder.While robbing the home of Dr. Pedro de Andrade, Alves killed a mother and three children who were under the physicians care. He then murdered another man in an attempt to cover up his initial crimes. Alves was ultimately caught and put to death on Feb. 19, 1841, and his severed head was preserved, supposedly so scientists could study his delinquent tendencies. Other legends claim that Diogo Alves was also the infamous Aqueduct Murderer who robbed victims and then threw them from the top of Lisbons guas Livres Aqueduct. However, he was never charged with these crimes during his lifetime, and the accounts are likely fictionalized.Whats more, the head in the jar at the University of Lisbon probably isnt Alves, either. Formaldehyde wasnt used for preservation until the late 19th century, well after the criminals time. The head also doesnt particularly resemble contemporary depictions of Alves.Its possible that Alves skull was kept at the university and confused with the jarred head of another man after a massive fire in 1978 destroyed the catalog for the schools anatomy collections. Or perhaps his head was never preserved at all. Either way, it seems that the interesting story of Diogo Alves is nothing but a myth.The Vicious Crimes Of Lobster BoyGrady Stiles Jr.s interesting story started on the very day of his birth in 1937. He was born into a family that was already famous for their ectrodactyly, a genetic condition that causes fingers and toes to fuse together into claw-like appendages.Public DomainGrady Stiles was born with ectrodactyly, a genetic condition that caused his fingers and toes to form in the shape of claws.Stiles father capitalized on this deformity by joining traveling carnivals as a sideshow attraction, and young Lobster Boy joined him when he was just seven years old. Stiles case was so severe that he wasnt able to walk and either used a wheelchair or dragged himself along with his arms.He married a woman named Mary Teresa and had two children, but she later left him for another sideshow performer, Harry Glenn Newman, who was advertised as the Smallest Man in the World. Their divorce was likely caused by Stiles heavy drinking, which often led to physical abuse. He had a terrible temper, and it made a lethal appearance in 1978 when he shot and killed his daughters fianc because he didnt approve of their relationship.While Stiles confessed and was convicted of third-degree murder, he was sentenced to just 15 years of probation because no prison in the area could accommodate his disability. Then, in an even more shocking turn of events, he reunited with his first wife, Mary Teresa, in 1989.Pittsburgh Post-GazetteAn article about Grady Stiles murder conviction in the Feb. 23, 1979 issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Their marriage was no better the second time around. Stiles was still abusive, and Mary Teresa began to fear for her life. So, in 1992, she and her son with Harry Newman paid a 17-year-old carnival worker named Chris Wyant $1,500 to shoot Stiles in the head as he was watching TV one night.Mary Teresa and her son were imprisoned, but she had no regrets about her actions. My husband was going to kill my family I believe that from the bottom of my heart, Mary Teresa said in court, as reported by the Los Angeles Times in 1994. Im sorry this happened but my family is safe now At least I know theyre alive, and I thank God for that.The post 10 Of The Most Interesting Stories From History And The Captivating Figures Behind Them appeared first on All That's Interesting.