Again that truly special relationship! President shows off his desk to Charles

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)


A newly elected U.S. President has several choices for his desk in the Oval Office. President Obama chose to use the Resolute desk, a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880.

This is the inscription on the front of the desk:

"H.M.S. RESOLUTE forming part of the expedition sent in search of SIR JOHN FRANKLIN IN 1852, was abandoned in latitude 74° 41' N longitude 101° 22' W⁽ on 15th May 1854. She was discovered and extricated in September 1855 in latitude 67 degrees N⁽ by Captain Buddington of the United States Whaler "GEORGE HENRY."
The ship was purchased, fitted out and sent to England as a gift to HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA by the PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES as a token of goodwill & friendship. This table was made from her timbers when she was broken up, and is presented by the QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES as a memorial of the courtesy and loving kindness which dictated the offer of the gift of the "RESOLUTE."