On This Day

Siamese twins Chang and Eng Bunker arrive in Boston to be exhibited

Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811 – January 17, 1874) were Siamese-American conjoined twin brothers whose fame propelled the expression "Siamese twins" to become synonymous for conjoined...

Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811 – January 17, 1874) were Siamese-American conjoined twin brothers whose fame propelled the expression "Siamese twins" to become synonymous for conjoined twins in general. They were widely exhibited as curiosities and were "two of the nineteenth century's most studied human beings".

The brothers were born in Siam (now known as Thailand) to a family of Chinese descent and were brought to the United States in 1829. They became known to American and European audiences in "freak shows". Newspapers and the public were initially sympathetic to them, and within three years, the brothers left the control of their managers, who they thought were cheating them, and toured on their own.

Historical Significance

Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811 – January 17, 1874) were Siamese-American conjoined twin brothers whose fame propelled the expression "Siamese twins" to become synonymous for conjoined twins in general.

Events Before

  1. 6th US President John Quincy Adam's son John marries in the White House

    John Quincy Adams (July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was the sixth president of the United States, serving from 1825 to 1829.

  2. 1st edition of Amsterdam General Trade Journal (Algemeen Handelsblad)

    1st edition of Amsterdam General Trade Journal (Algemeen Handelsblad)

  3. More than 100 vessels destroyed in a storm, Gibraltar

    More than 100 vessels destroyed in a storm, Gibraltar

  4. 1st American Indian newspaper in US, "Cherokee Phoenix", published

    1st American Indian newspaper in US, "Cherokee Phoenix", published

  5. Russia and Persia sign the Peace of Turkmantsjai

    Russia and Persia sign the Peace of Turkmantsjai

Events After

  1. The Republic of Ecuador is founded with Juan José Flores as president

    Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west.

  2. US President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, a key law leading to the forced removal of the Cherokee, Chick

    US President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, a key law leading to the forced removal of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes out of Georgia and surrounding states, setting the stage for the Cherokee Trail of Tears

  3. Beginning of French colonization of Algeria: 34,000 French soldiers land 27 kilometers west of Algiers at Sidi Ferruch

    Beginning of French colonization of Algeria: 34,000 French soldiers land 27 kilometers west of Algiers at Sidi Ferruch

  4. The first American-built locomotive, "Tom Thumb," races a horse-drawn car from the Stockton and Stokes stagecoach compan

    The first American-built locomotive, "Tom Thumb," races a horse-drawn car from the Stockton and Stokes stagecoach company from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills; due to mechanical problems, the horse wins!

  5. Princess Marianne of the Netherlands (20) marries her cousin Prince Albert of Prussia (20) (marriage dissolved 1849)

    Princess Marianne of the Netherlands (20) marries her cousin Prince Albert of Prussia (20) (marriage dissolved 1849)

More from the 1820s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on August 16, 1829?
Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811 – January 17, 1874) were Siamese-American conjoined twin brothers whose fame propelled the expression "Siamese twins" to become synonymous for conjoined twins in general. They were widely exhibited as curiosities and were "two of the nineteenth century's most studied human beings". The brothers were born in Siam (now known as Thailand) to a family of Chinese descent and were brought to the United States in 1829.
Why is Siamese twins Chang and Eng Bunker arrive in Boston to be exhibited significant?
Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811 – January 17, 1874) were Siamese-American conjoined twin brothers whose fame propelled the expression "Siamese twins" to become synonymous for conjoined twins in general.

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