Chang and Eng Bunker Biography

Chang and Eng Bunker were conjoined twins from Siam (hence the term "Siamese twins"), joined near the breastbone by a five-inch ligament. As children they spent some time in the court of the king of Siam, then were taken to the United States as a circus exhibition. Their stage act and unique physical makeup made them famous, and they toured the world. Eventually, with the help of promoter P. T. Barnum, they gained control of their career and earned a good living as entertainers. They settled in North Carolina, where they married sisters and lived as farmers. Eng and his wife had eleven children, and Chang and his wife had ten.