At the pre-emptory request of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last nine years and ten months past of San Fransisco, California, declare and proclaim myself the Emperor of These United States. - September 17, 1859
Joshua A. Norton (b. February 14, 1819, London, England; d. January 8, 1880, San Francisco, California) was, famously, the self-proclaimed "emperor of the United States" in the mid-19th century.
Norton came to San Francisco from South Africa in 1849 with $40,000. After making money in real estate, he lost it all trying to corner the rice market in San Francisco. On September 17, 1859 he proclaimed himself "Emperor of These United States". (He later added protector of Mexico to this).
Throughout his reign he issued many decrees, which were published in local newspapers. These included commanding that the [Golden Gate bridge]? be built and one about the name of the city, "Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abdominal word 'Frisco,' which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor." Penalty for noncompliance was $25. Others included:
July 16, 1860 - Decree from Norton I dissolved the United States of America.
August 12, 1869 - Decree from Norton I dissolved and abolished the Democratic and Republican parties
Some of the decrees attributed to him may be fakes. [1]
He also had his own currency [2] published which was accepted at face value by many local merchants - in fact today it is extremely valuable (if you can find it) with $10 notes fetching up to $2000 US.
Emperor Norton, as was only proper, dined free in many San Francisco restaurants during his reign.
He is said to have stopped an anti-Chinese riot simply by standing in the street in front of the rioters and reciting the Lord's Prayer.
On January 8, 1880 he dropped dead on California St. at Grant Ave. On January 10, he was buried in the Masonic Cemetery. The funeral cortege was two miles long - Between 10,000 and 30,000 people were reported to have attended.
He never imprisoned anyone, executed anyone or declared war on any other country. In this, he did a better job than most kings and emperors (to paraphrase the remarks of a judge who refused to jail him as a vagrant or have him committed as insane).
The King in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn is reportedly modeled after him.
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