The Fascinating Tale of the President's 'Resolute' Desk
The desk of the president has an intriguing history, intertwining the narratives of a ghost ship, polar exploration, and the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. The story begins with a British Admiral, Sir Edward Belcher.
Admiral Sir Edward Belcher and the Arctic Expedition
Sir Edward Belcher, a mapmaker in the British Royal Navy, was known as a stern leader who turned every ship under his command into a challenging environment. In 1854, Belcher and his small fleet braved the icy waters of the Arctic. Despite his harsh leadership style, Belcher was a skilled seaman, explorer, and hydrographer. He was tasked with a significant mission in 1852: to search the Arctic for any signs of the lost Franklin Expedition.
The Franklin Expedition, led by Sir John Franklin, was a British exploration operation in 1845 that aimed to discover the Northwest Passage through Canada to the Pacific. The crew was instructed to record magnetic data to aid future navigation practices. However, the dangerous northern sea trapped the expedition, resulting in one of the worst disasters in polar exploration history.
The two ships of the Franklin expedition, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, departed from Britain in May 1845. They were last seen in Canada's Baffin Bay after resupplying in Greenland in July. They disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only a few artifacts and human remains. Forensic investigations revealed that the men suffered from starvation, scurvy, lead poisoning, and possibly cannibalism. The wrecks of the Erebus and the Terror were finally discovered off King William Island in the 2010s.
The HMS Resolute and its Journey
In response to this polar tragedy, Sir Edward Belcher and his small fleet, including the HMS Resolute, ventured into the Arctic in 1854. However, Belcher's voyage was nearly as disastrous as Franklin's. Despite the Resolute's robust construction, it became trapped in the ice in 1854, along with four other ships under Belcher's command. Belcher decided to abandon the ships and trek overland to meet other vessels that could take them back to England.
After returning to England, Belcher was court-martialed for abandoning his ships but was acquitted as his orders allowed him discretion. He never received another command. Meanwhile, the abandoned Resolute waited in the frozen North Sea. The crew had left it in good condition, expecting it to be destroyed by the ice. However, that was not its fate.
During the summer, the ice thawed, and the Resolute broke free. It drifted for about 1,200 miles until it was spotted by James Buddington, captain of an American whaling ship, near Baffin Island in 1855. Buddington and his crew claimed the ship according to maritime law, and the British government accepted this when notified of the find. However, the U.S. government had a different plan.
The Resolute's Role in U.S.-U.K. Relations
At this time, U.S. relations with Great Britain were tense due to lingering memories of the War of 1812 and ongoing disputes over the Canadian border. The U.S. government saw the discovery of the Resolute as an opportunity to extend a gesture of goodwill towards the British. Congress authorized $40,000 to purchase the ship from Buddington and repair it.
The refurbished Resolute was returned to England as a gift to Queen Victoria, who personally visited the ship. The British appreciated the gesture, and the queen remembered this act of kindness from the Americans for many years.
The Resolute Desk
When the Resolute was decommissioned and dismantled in 1879, Queen Victoria ordered some of its timbers to be preserved. The sturdy oak wood, which had endured many storms and witnessed both tragedy and reconciliation, was crafted into a massive, ornate desk weighing 1,300 pounds. Victoria sent it as a surprise gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880, expressing gratitude for the return of the Resolute and symbolizing the enduring goodwill and alliance between the United States and Great Britain.
Most U.S. Presidents have used the desk since it was gifted at the end of the 19th century. It was rediscovered by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the White House's broadcast room, where it had been used to hold a projector between 1951 and 1962. She had it moved back to the Oval Office, where it has been part of many significant moments in American presidential history.
Bottom Line
The Resolute desk, as it is known, carries within it the marks of struggle, abandonment, miraculous discovery, restoration, and reconciliation. It serves as a fitting symbol for the resolute American spirit. What are your thoughts on this fascinating piece of history? Do you find its journey as intriguing as we do? Share this article with your friends and let them in on this remarkable story. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6 pm.
The Fascinating Tale of the President's 'Resolute' Desk
The desk of the president has an intriguing history, intertwining the narratives of a ghost ship, polar exploration, and the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. The story begins with a British Admiral, Sir Edward Belcher.
