In 1850, Britain sent the HMS Resolute to the Arctic to search for Sir John Franklin’s missing expedition. The ship became trapped in ice in the Canadian Archipelago and was abandoned by its crew in 1854, and it remained there for two winters. In September 1855, the American whaling ship George Henry found Resolute drifting over 1,000 miles from where it had been left, still intact. The U.S. sailed it to Connecticut, and Congress paid to fully restore it as a friendly gesture toward Britain during a tense period in U.S.-British relations. The restored Resolute was formally returned to Queen Victoria in December 1856 and became a symbol of American goodwill. When the ship was retired in 1879, its oak timbers were saved, later used to build the Resolute Desk in 1880 as a thank you gift to the United States

In 1880, Queen Victoria commissioned three desks made from the oak timbers of the retired HMS Resolute. They were crafted at Chatham Dockyard and carried the history of the ship along with the goodwill it symbolized. The largest desk was sent to President Rutherford B. Hayes as a thank you to the United States for restoring and returning the ship. A desk was chosen intentionally so the president would use it every day, creating a constant reminder of friendship and a lasting sign of the ongoing relationship between Britain and the United States.

The main Resolute Desk is in the Oval Office, used by most** presidents since JFK. Interesting to note is the fact that not all presidents have used the desk, but it was only for tangible reasons and had (apparently) nothing to do with Britain. First was Lyndon B. Johnson – he found the desk too small and moved his own desk into the Oval Office. President Nixon continued to use the same larger desk that LBJ used, and Gerald Ford used the same desk from Nixon and LBJ . It was Jimmy Carter who brought the Resolute Desk back into the Oval office in 1977.

A second desk made from HMS Resolute wood, the Grinnell Desk, is in the New Bedford Whaling Museum. 

A third smaller desk is in the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth, England. All three desks were built from different parts of the HMS Resolute after it was broken up in 1879. Each desk became part of a different national story: diplomacy, naval history, and maritime heritage 

The desk is made from solid oak timbers. The desk is 72 inches long, 48 inches wide and 33 inches high. This desk is extremely heavy, weighing about 1,300 pounds. The desk is topped with bordered and embossed leather for comfort, as well as being functional for writing. There are various carvings on the desk, many being floral designs, a common Victorian era design, often symbolizing messages of love and friendship.

There is a plaque located on the front center drawer explaining the history and meaning of the desk. The plaque is important to keep the meaning of the desk. alive. The plaque states

 "HMS 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° 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" (Kenney 153).

The desk was originally created as a double pedestal partners' desk. It was designed for two people to work facing each other.

In 1945, a panel was added to cover the knee hole. The panel has the Presidential Seal carved onto it.  The seal was unusual as the eagle faced the left towards the bundle of arrows. In 1945, President Truman had the panel switched for the eagles to face the right towards the olive branch, which is the standard presidential seal.

There have been a few alterations since President Ronald Reagan raised the desk 4.5 cm so his knees wouldn't hit the underside of the desk.