In 1811, conjoined twin brothers Chang and Eng Bunker were born in Siam (now Thailand). They were joined at the sternum by a short, flexible band of flesh and cartilage, through which their livers were connected.

The dark history of the original Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker

On , Chang and Eng Bunker married Adelaide and Sarah Yates. While they all shared a home at first—and a colossal bed—the twins eventually built two separate houses for their respective families and traded off between them every three days.

The origins of the phrase “Siamese Twins,” Chang and Eng Bunker were conjoined twins who operated a plantation in North Carolina during the Civil War. Born on , in Mekong, Siam, modern-day Thailand, Chang and Eng were connected at the breastbone by a small piece of cartilage.

The "original" Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker were conjoined at the sternum — and became a sideshow sensation because of it.

Born conjoined twins, Chang and Eng Bunker were exhibited throughout the Western world as human oddities. The two brothers used their intelligence and business savvy to become successful entrepreneurs and farmers.

Originally from Siam but later residents of Surry County, Eng and Chang Bunker became the reference for the medical condition when twins are conjoined. Born in 1811, the two were joined together at the chest by a thin band of flesh and remained that way until their 1874 death.