The Pig War: When a Pig Almost Started a War
Did you know a single pig almost caused a war between the U.S. and Britain? In 1859, tensions flared on San Juan Island over a British pig eating an American farmer’s potatoes. What started as a minor dispute escalated into a military standoff. How did this bizarre conflict unfold? And how was war ultimately avoided? Let’s dive into the strange but true story of the Pig War!
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It all started on June 15, 1859, when an American farmer, Lyman Cutlar, found a pig eating his
potatoes.
Frustrated, he shot the pig, not realizing it belonged to the Hudson’s Bay Company, a British entity.
The pig’s owner, Charles Griffin, was furious and demanded compensation.
Cutlar refused, and soon, British authorities got involved.
What seemed like a simple farm dispute quickly escalated into an international incident between the U.S.
and Britain.
The San Juan Islands were already a point of contention between the U.S.
and Britain, with both nations claiming ownership.
When British authorities threatened to arrest Cutlar, American settlers called for military protection.
In response, the U.S.
sent troops under Captain George Pickett.
The British, not backing down, dispatched warships.
Suddenly, a dispute over a pig had turned into a full-blown military standoff, with both sides refusing to
retreat.
The situation was tense, and war seemed imminent.
For weeks, American and British forces stood face to face, waiting for orders.
The British had warships, while the Americans had soldiers dug in on the island.
Both sides were under strict orders not to fire first, but tensions ran high.
The situation could have spiraled into war at any moment.
Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed.
British Rear Admiral Robert Baynes refused to escalate the conflict over a pig, stating it was not worth
going to war over.
Diplomacy finally took over.
Officials from both nations negotiated a peaceful resolution, agreeing to a joint military occupation of the island until
ownership could be settled.
For the next 12 years, British and American troops coexisted peacefully on San Juan Island, even celebrating holidays
together.
Eventually, in 1872, an international arbitration led by Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm I ruled in favor of the U.S.,
officially granting them the islands.
The Pig War ended without a single human casualty.
The Pig War remains one of history’s strangest conflicts—an international standoff sparked by a single pig.
It’s a reminder of how small incidents can escalate into major disputes, but also how diplomacy can prevent
unnecessary wars.
Today, San Juan Island is a peaceful tourist destination, with historical sites marking the bizarre event.
And the pig?
It may not have survived, but its role in history is unforgettable.
Sometimes, history’s most absurd moments teach the most valuable lessons.
