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14 Of the Strangest Wars Ever Fought (That Sound Completely Made Up)

Trista July 7, 2025 8 min

6. The Pig War (United States vs. Britain, 1859)

british troops evacuate san juan island, washington terr, 1872 restored — British troops evacuate English Camp on San Juan Island, Washington Territory, in 1872, following resolution of boundary dispute by arbitration. Restored version of the file “San Juan Island, Washington Terr, 1872”. Source: Wikipedia

One pig’s unfortunate fate nearly led to war between two global powers. When an American farmer shot a British-owned pig on San Juan Island, tensions quickly escalated. Both nations rushed troops to the island, creating a tense military standoff. Remarkably, the only casualty was the pig itself, and cooler heads prevailed as the dispute was settled peacefully. Read the full story at History.com.

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Trista

6. The Pig War (United States vs. Britain, 1859)

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