Chang and Eng Bunker, The Original Siamese Twins
Portrait of the twins with nine vignettes along the border depicting them in such activities as hunting, boating, plowing, and with their respective families. Chang and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811 - January 17, 1874) were the conjoined twin brothers whose condition and birthplace became the basis for the term "Siamese twins". The Bunker brothers were joined at the sternum by a small piece of cartilage. Their livers were fused but independently complete. In 1829, they were "discovered" in Siam by British merchant Robert Hunter and exhibited as a curiosity during a world tour. Upon termination of their contract they were determined to start living a normal life as much as possible They became naturalized United States citizens, settled on a plantation, in North Carolina, bought slaves and adopted the name "Bunker". The twins died on the same day in January 1874. Chang, who had contracted pneumonia, died rather suddenly in his sleep. Eng awoke to find his brother dead, and called for his wife and children to attend to him. A doctor was summoned to perform an emergency separation, but Eng refused to be separated from his dead brother. He died three hours later.
Size: 3000px × 4286px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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