162 anniversary of the "Pig War"

Mushroom

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Dec 31, 2012
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I am sure that most are not aware, but today is the 162 anniversary of the "Pig War", the closest the US and UK have come to war since 1812.

At that time, the two countries were in a dispute as to where the border between the US and Canada was, as the original treaty only said it would be a "Navigable straight" between Vancouver Island and Washington. And as there were two straights, both countries were insisting that the one more favorable to them was the real border. This has been ongoing since 1846, with both US and British settlers setting up home on all of the islands. One of them was San Juan Island. This was home to both a US and UK population, both insisting that they were on land that belonged to their country. But relations were rather peaceful.

Until 15 June 1859, when the pig of an Irish employee of the Hudson Bay Company was found once again eating the potatoes of an American farmer. This had happened before, as the Irish farmer let his pigs roam the island freely. The American shot the pig, and the Irish man demanded that the British government enforce his demands for payment. Which then led to the US farmers asking for the US military to protect them.

This resulted in the "Pig War", a 12 year long standoff, involving over 2,500 soldiers (most of them British), and not a shot was fired other than that to kill the pig. And during the US Civil War, some were encouraging that England not only force the issue as the US was distracted, but that they take over all of the state of Washington. This had both nations ready to fight, and both had armed encampments situated on the island. Finally in 1872, both sides went to Emperor Wilhelm I, and he agreed to arbitrate the issue and the war ended peacefully.

And most interestingly, the US Park Service still maintains the "British Camp", complete with most of the original buildings still in place. And it is the only location in the US without formal diplomatic presence that US government employees raise and lower the flag of another nation. Even 162 years later, they still do this, raising the "Union Jack" and lowering it every day.

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Ever been there to San Juan Island??? It's a beautiful place.


Also, did you realize there is a place called Point Roberts that dips below the 49th parallel and therefore is part of Washington state as a result of the Pig War? It can only be accessed by land, by driving thru Canada.......or by airplane or boat, of course.


Interesting factoid
 

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