The Resolute Desk in the Oval Office is an embodiment of historical connections between the United States and the United Kingdom that dates back to the 19th century. Its fascinating journey from being part of a polar expedition, abandonment in the Arctic seas, miraculous rediscovery by an American whaling ship, becoming a gift from America to Britain, and eventually finding its place as a presidential desk, is intertwined with tales of perseverance, goodwill gestures, and mutual respect between the two nations.
The story begins with Sir Edward Belcher, a British Admiral known for his harsh leadership style, who led an expedition in 1854 to search for traces of the lost Franklin Expedition in the Arctic. The Franklin Expedition, launched in 1845 under the command of Captain John Franklin, aimed to chart a Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago but ended disastrously with all crew members perishing due to harsh conditions and scurvy. Belcher’s expedition led him to abandon his ship HMS Resolute in 1854 after it became trapped in ice.
Miraculously, the ship was found by an American whaling captain named James Buddington in 1855, who decided to sail it back to the United States. Under maritime law at the time, the ship belonged to those who had found her, but Congress authorized $40,000 to purchase the ship from Buddington and refurbish it as a goodwill gesture towards Britain amid strained relations over issues such as the Canadian border dispute and memories of the War of 1812.
The restored ship was presented to Queen Victoria in 1856, who remembered this kindness for many years. When the Resolute was eventually broken down in 1879, she ordered some of its timbers preserved and constructed into a massive desk that weighed 1,300 pounds. She sent it as a surprise gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880, symbolizing gratitude for returning her ship.
The Resolute Desk has been used by most U.S. Presidents since its gift at the end of the 19th century and continues to serve as a reminder of the deep historical connections between two allied nations. Its journey from being part of a tragic polar expedition to becoming an emblem of goodwill and mutual respect is truly remarkable, reflecting both struggle and reconciliation in international relations.
