The Pig War was a boundary dispute between the United States and Great Britain in 1859, involving the territories of the United States and British Canada. The conflict is humorously named due to its relatively minor nature and the fact that the only casualty was a pig. Here’s an overview of the Pig War:

Background:

1. Treaty of Oregon (1846):

   • The Treaty of Oregon, signed in 1846, aimed to settle the boundary between British North America (Canada) and the United States in the Pacific Northwest.

   • The treaty established the boundary along the 49th parallel, but ambiguities remained, particularly concerning the San Juan Islands, located between Vancouver Island and the mainland.

2. Ambiguous Wording:

   • The treaty stated that the boundary would run "through the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island." However, there were several channels, leading to differing interpretations by the British and Americans.

   • The British favored the boundary running through the Rosario Strait, while the Americans preferred the Haro Strait, placing the San Juan Islands within their territory.

The Incident:

3. Tensions on San Juan Island:

   • By the late 1850s, both American settlers and the Hudson's Bay Company (representing British interests) had established presences on San Juan Island.

   • On June 15, 1859, an American settler named Lyman Cutlar shot and killed a pig that belonged to a Hudson's Bay Company employee, Charles Griffin. The pig had been rooting in Cutlar's garden, prompting the shooting.

4. Escalation:

   • The incident quickly escalated as Griffin demanded compensation, and Cutlar refused to pay, claiming the pig had been trespassing.

   • American settlers called for military protection, and the U.S. Army sent Captain George Pickett, who later became a famous Confederate general, to establish a military presence on the island.

5. British Response:

   • In response, the British sent three warships to the area, and both sides began to fortify their positions. At its peak, the American force numbered around 500 troops, while the British had over 2,000 sailors and marines.

Resolution:

6. Negotiations:

   • Despite the military buildup, both sides were cautious and avoided open conflict. The situation remained tense, but no shots were fired.

   • The standoff continued for several months until higher authorities in both governments intervened.

7. Joint Occupation:

   • U.S. President James Buchanan and British Columbia's Governor James Douglas agreed to a joint military occupation of the island while the dispute was referred to international arbitration.

   • For the next 12 years, both nations maintained a peaceful joint occupation on San Juan Island, each with a small military presence.

8. Arbitration and Final Settlement:

   • In 1872, the boundary dispute was submitted to Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany for arbitration. The arbitration commission, led by the German Emperor, ruled in favor of the United States, establishing the boundary through the Haro Strait.

   • The British withdrew their forces, and the San Juan Islands were officially recognized as part of the United States.

Legacy:

9. Peaceful Resolution:

   • The Pig War is often cited as an example of a conflict resolved through diplomacy and arbitration rather than warfare.

   • The incident is remembered humorously and serves as a historical curiosity highlighting the sometimes trivial nature of international disputes.

10. Cultural Impact:

    • San Juan Island today hosts several historical sites related to the Pig War, including American and British camps that are preserved as part of the San Juan Island National Historical Park.

The Pig War stands out in history for its lack of violence and its resolution through peaceful means, with the only casualty being a pig. It underscores the importance of diplomacy and international arbitration in resolving territorial disputes.