How a Potato-Eating Pig Nearly Sparked a War 🐖💥

Picture it: San Juan Islands, 1859. A tranquil paradise nestled between the expanse of Vancouver Island and the bustling state of Washington.

The days are idyllic, the nights serene. A population comprising fewer than 25 American settlers and a few Hudson’s Bay Company employees go about their simple lives, untouched by the complexities of the world.

But beneath this veneer of tranquility, a tempest was brewing. And it all began with a pig’s insatiable appetite for potatoes.

Yes, you read that right. A pig.

Lyman Cutlar, an American farmer, was particularly proud of his potato patch. So, when he caught a pig gobbling down his treasured taters, fury eclipsed reason. In the heat of the moment, a single shot rang out, and the marauding pig met its unfortunate end. This pig, it turned out, wasn’t just any pig — it belonged to Charles Griffin of the British Hudson’s Bay Company. One man’s trespassing swine was another man’s $100 treasure.

Now, in any ordinary tale, this might end with an apology, maybe compensation, perhaps even a dinner invitation featuring roasted pork. But these islands were not ordinary. Both the UK and the US staked a claim on this land, and the Oregon Treaty of 1846 did little to soothe the simmering tensions. With the gunshot, a spark was lit.

What followed was a theatrical display of military muscle-flexing. Troops were summoned, warships anchored, and camps established. For months, over 2,500 British soldiers stared down fewer than 500 Americans. Despite the gravity, not a single shot was fired — well, aside from the one that started it all.

Rumors swirled. Whispers of the islands becoming a “Bunker Hill” echoed through the camps. Rear Admiral Robert Baynes of the British navy even found himself anchored perilously close to the American camp. Yet amidst this buildup, cooler heads began to prevail. When President James Buchanan sent General Winfield Scott to broker peace with Governor James Douglas of Vancouver Island, hope for a peaceful resolution shimmered on the horizon.

Thanks to Scott’s mediation, and no doubt the realization that all this fuss was over a pig, the tensions deflated. By November 1859, joint military occupation was established, lasting a whopping 12 years. In a final twist, Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany decided the fate of the islands, granting them to the United States.

Today, the San Juan Islands stand as a testament to the power of diplomacy over force. Tourists flock to the region, perhaps drawn by its serene beauty or the quirky tales of the Pig War, commemorated every year on the weekend closest to June 15. A monument stands in the English Camp prairie, reminding all of the importance of reason over rashness.

As for our initial culprit, Lyman Cutlar? He quietly left San Juan Island after the incident. One can only wonder if he ever looked back, pondering how his single act had nearly ignited an international conflict.

So, the next time you’re tempted to make a mountain out of a molehill (or a war out of a pig), remember the Great Oink Standoff. Sometimes, diplomacy and a little perspective can turn the tide of history.

P.S. Ever fancied a trip to San Juan Islands? Make sure to stop by the Pig War Museum, and perhaps enjoy some taters in honor of the pig that changed history!