15th Oct 2022

The Surprising Story of the President’s Desk

Image by vectorpocket on Freepik

The Resolute Desk otherwise known as the Hayes Desk is one of the most iconic pieces of furniture in the world. 

This desk has been the workspace of many presidents including Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama. 

Presidents have signed treaties, declared wars, and issued executive orders from this desk.

It is a symbol of strength and resolve, and it will likely continue to be a part of the American presidency for years to come.

However, did you know the surprising story behind how this iconic desk found its home in the Oval Office?

Remarkably the story of the desk starts with a British expedition to find a sea passage through the Canadian Arctic.

In 1845, Captain Sir John Franklin led two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror to find such a passage.

However, after a few years of not hearing from the expedition, people back home started to worry and search parties were sent out.

One of the ships sent to look for Sir John Franklin and his crew was the HMS Resolute. 

Unfortunately, this ship also went missing, trapped by encroaching Arctic ice in the Kitikmeot Region of northern Canada.

Incredibly, after the ice had thawed the ship was found nearly two years later by an American whaling crew who towed it to the USA where it was sold to the government for $40,000.

In a show of goodwill, the Americans decided to restore the ship and return it to Queen Victoria and the people of Britain.

Where it served the Queen and her empire for several more years. The ship was then retired and dismantled in 1879.

Queen Victoria was so taken by the American gesture that she had the resolute desk commissioned from the wooden boards of the HMS Resolute.

This was then gifted it to President Rutherford Birchard Hayes.

Hence why the desk is also known as the Hayes Desk. 

Amazing story, right? The next time you see the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, you'll know the incredible journey it has been on to get there.

Rooms for All

Whilst we don't sell desks made from 200-year-old ships, we do have stunning selection of functional desks that can make your office space good enough for a president.

Head on over to our website to see the range today.

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