Ever wonder when Britain and America stopped being enemies, and started their "special relationship"? We were enemies in 1776 and 1812, but then does anybody know what happened between then and WWI, when we were allies?
HMS RESOLUTE was sent into the Arctic to find Franklin in 1852, and then salvaged by an American whaler out of New London, Connecticut. When Britain and America were on the brink of war, she became the focus of the tensions....and then history was changed forever.
RESOLUTE went into the Arctic (1852) searching for lost explorer Franklin. Abandoned (1854), a whaler out of New London Connecticut finds, salvages her (1855) and brings her to America when Britain and America are close to war. The most vocal warmonger, Senator Mason from Virginia, gets the US government to buy, refurbish, and send Resolute to Britain. ($44,000.00 in 1856!!) This gift diffuses the situation and prevents the war (1856). The pre-Civil War politics in America played an important role in bringing the USA to the brink of war with Britain, and thus slavery is an essential ingredient to this story.
But the greatness of the HMS RESOLUTE story is that it was the turning point in the relationship between America and Great Britain, when they made the transition from being enemy nations to being friends and allies. The desk made from RESOLUTE's timbers, which is in the oval office of the White House in Washington DC, is the enduring symbol of this special relationship.
I was born in Chicago, Illinois, and became an avid sailor in the 1980's. In 1993 I was involved in an automobile accident, which resulted in a severe back injury. After a year of being completely home bound, my doctor prescribed a reclining wheelchair for me. While this chair would give me more freedom, I was saddened by the fact that I would have to have a wheel chair in my life. In order to overcome that sadness, and to celebrate the arrival of my chair, I decided to have a wheel chair launching party.
Much like a ship launching, I needed a name for my chair so I could christen it with champagne. I chose Resolute, naming my wheelchair after the 1920 America's Cup winner. In addition to the dictionary definition of the word resolute, knowing I needed to be resolute to continue with my painful physical therapy, I also liked the story of the 1920 America Cup race. Resolute had lost as many of the qualifying races as she possibly could without being disqualified. And then she started winning: she came up from behind to win the silver.
When I progressed with my therapy, and it looked as though I might someday be able to adapt a sailing yacht and sail again, I researched what other ships had been named Resolute, and found this story. Now, after years of research, I am recognised in the Maritime History community as the world's leading expert on RESOLUTE!
My British husband and I spend half the year in London and half the year in the Mediterranean on our Halberg Rassy, S/Y RESOLUTE. And I am currently going through the process of getting my British passport and permanent leave to remain. (So far this forum has been incredibly helpful!!!)
My book of maritime historical fiction:
From the Canadian Arctic
to the President's Desk
HMS
RESOLUTE
And
How She Prevented a War
is being published at the end of November. If any folks on this forum would like to know more about HMS RESOLUTE, and would like me to talk to any groups or book clubs they belong to about the story and my book, I would love to do it. This story was lost in history, yet is the pivotal moment in the relationship between America and Britain when the 2 countries became friends. Something all of us on this web site are a part of!!
I would be lying if I didn't say I want to sell copies of my book, but I also really want to share this incredible story with as many folks as possible, and I thought my fellow UK Yankees would be a good place to begin that sharing.
Elizabeth
