A standing desk is a desk conceived for writing or reading while standing up or while sitting on a high stool. The terms “stand-up desk” or “stand up desk” are also used. During the 18th and 19th centuries, standing desks were popular in the homes and offices of the rich.. Standing desks have regained some popularity due to purported health benefits, however, these benefits have not yet been clearly established. Notable users of standing desks include British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, author Virginia Woolf, songwriter Oscar Hammerstein II, author Ernest Hemingway, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and U.S. founding father Benjamin Franklin.