9. Brook Watson Attacked Twice by Sharks in 1749
Brook Watson was a 14-year old crew member of a ship docked in Cuba in 1749. He went for a swim in the harbor one day when he was attacked twice by the same shark. He lost a foot, then a leg, but became known as the first survivor of a shark attack.
Watson became the mayor of London and served a 9-year term in Parliament. Watson was also the subject of a very famous painting by colonial artist John Singleton Copley.