In 1861 King Rama IV, also known as King Mongkut, the fourth Siamese monarch of the house of Chakri, expressed in a letter to president James Buchanan of the United States, upon having heard from an American captain visiting Siam that there were no elephants in America, his desire to gift one to the United States. By offering to send an Elephant to the Americans, our relations will surely improve! - Victoria 2

The story of one king's odd offer to the president of the United States