Chang and Eng Bunker

AKA:

The Bunker Twins, The Original "Siamese Twins"

Birth Name:

Chang and Eng

Birth Date:

May 11, 1811

Birth Place:

Samut Songkhram, Rattanakosin Kingdom (Siam)

Death Date:

January 17, 1874

Place of Death:

Mount Airy, North Carolina

Age:

Cause of Death:

Chang: cerebral blood clot/Eng: unknown

Cemetery Name:

White Plains Baptist Church Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

The Odd and the Interesting

Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker were Siamese-American conjoined twin brothers whose fame led to the term "Siamese twins" to become synonymous for conjoined twins in general. They were first pair of conjoined twins whose condition was well documented in medical records. Eng and Chang Bunker were connected at the chest by a five-inch-wide band of flesh, and performed as curiosities world-wide. After retiring from performing, they settled in Mount Airy, North Carolina, bought a farm, and took up farming. They became naturalized citizens, adopting the surname Bunker, and in April 1843 they married a pair of sisters, Adelaide and Sarah Yates. Chang Bunker died on January 17, 1874, from a cerebral blood clot and his brother Eng Bunker died three hours later.

Fun Fact

Eng and Chang is Chinese for “Right” and “Left”. Who knew???

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

White Plains Baptist Church Cemetery

614 Old Highway 601

White Plains, North Carolina, 27030

USA

North America

Grave Location:

Bunker Family Plot

Grave Location Description

Chang and Eng Bunker’s grave is located in the cemetery behind White Plains Baptist Church, and is a short walk (about 160 feet west) from the Church’s south parking lot. Their grave is about 5 rows in from the south parking.