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Pig Caused Near War Between Britain and United States
A 1859 San Juan Island standoff began when an American shot a Hudson's Bay pig, prompting British threats and a naval display. Captain Pickett refused to withdraw, Britain pressed for joint control, and diplomacy led to a staged joint occupation rather than war. Meanwhile Texas friction with France over hogs and a hotel keeper escalated into diplomatic exchanges.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elmo Scott Watson
Union
England
California
Oregon Country
Pacific Northwest
San Juan Island
Washington
Hudson’s Bay Company
United States
Hudson's Bay
Dallas
Victoria
Vancouver Island
Cutter
Department of the Columbia
Fort Vancouver
Wash
William S. Harney
War Department
Harney
Ninth United States Infantry
George E. Pickett
Pickett
Great Britain
James Douglas
Tribune
Esquimalt
The
Hudson's Bay Company
British Columbia
General Harney
Shubrick
Alden
United States Navy
Douglas
Silas Casey
Ninth Infantry
San Juan
Casey
Lrt
Oregon
Terr
Texas
France
Count Duboise de Saligny
Austin
James Bullock
Bulock
de Saligny
Hotse
Bullock
James S. Mayfield
Eugene Playette
Secretary of State
Paris
New Orleans
Gulf of Mexico