The U.S. and Britain Almost Went to War Over a Potato-Stealing Pig

A potato-stealing pig almost pushed America and England into war. Let’s talk about the Pig War: a garden dispute that turned into an international incident.

A Confusing Border

The 1846 Oregon Treaty set the boundary between American and British territory in the Pacific Northwest, but vague wording left ownership of San Juan Island, specifically, unclear.

Both countries claimed the island, and both had people living on it. American settlers farmed there alongside the British Hudson’s Bay Company, which ran operations on the same land.

The Pig

On June 15, 1859, American settler Lyman Cutlar found a large pig rooting through his garden, eating his potatoes. The pig belonged to an Irishman working for the Hudson’s Bay Company, and this animal had raided Cutlar’s crop before – so Cutlar lost his patience and shot it.

He offered to pay for the pig, but the two men could not agree on a price, and the argument escalated fast. British authorities threatened to arrest Cutlar, and American settlers who were alarmed at the idea of British officials hauling off one of their own called for military protection.

The Almost-War

The response was wildly out of proportion to a dead farm animal! The U.S. Army sent troops to San Juan Island, and Britain answered by dispatching warships.

Over the following weeks, the standoff swelled to absurd size. By the peak of the crisis, hundreds of American soldiers faced off against thousands of British sailors and marines aboard several warships. Two governments had brought serious military force to bear over a pig and a patch of potatoes.

When news about this standoff reached DC and London, negotiators were sent to calm down this emotionally-driven, completely irrational escalation, which even had George Pickett (of failed Confederate fame) saying he’d “make a Bunker Hill of it.”

Fortunately there were still a few people whose instincts weren’t to throw childish, bloviating tantrums, and those leaders agreed to a joint military occupation of the island. And by all accounts, the workers and settlers got along fine, as did the troops.

American and British troops shared San Juan Island until 1872, when an international commission awarded the island to the United States. The peaceful resolution closed a conflict that could have been disastrous.

You can still visit the site of the Pig War today at San Juan Island National Historical Park, where the old American and British camps remain.

About the Author

As the editor in chief of Frayed Passport, my goal is to help you build a lifestyle that lets you travel the world whenever you want and however long you want, and not worry about where your next paycheck will come from. I've been to 20+ countries and five continents, lived for years as a full-time digital nomad, and have worked completely remotely since 2015. If you would like to share your story with our community, or partner with Frayed Passport, get in touch with me using the form on our About page.

Featured image by Alexas_Fotos on Unsplash