Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-17
EMPEROR OF U.s.
DIED POOR IN 1880
Self-Appointed King Lost His
Mind When Rice Cor
ner" Failed

One of the best-kifown eccentrics
of early California was Joshua Nor
ton, ar English Jew, who came to
San Francisco in 1S47 or 1S4S. For
many years he was a successful
merchant in that city, and at one
time was buying partner for three
or four mercantile houses in the
interior of the state, and was look
ed upon as a man of exceptional
business ability.
Nortin went to smash in an en-
deavor to corner" rice, which in
the early days was a favorite staple
with those who wished to get rich
quick. He bought up all the rice
obtainable in San Francisco, then
sent abroad for more. Wher the
latter arrived he could not pay for
the shipment and a law suit was the
result. During the progress of the
trial he suddenly went insane.
AS he was never violent or noisy
he was allowed to go at large. He
developed magnificent ideas of being
the Emperor of California and Pro-
tector of Mexico" After losing his
mind his sole purpose in life was to
see that his subjects were well
and kindly ruled and that his do
main was in prosperous condition.
He even offered to marry the daugh-
ter of the man who had shipped him
the rice, and make her co-ruler of
the state. her title to be Empress of
California"
- Settled War of 1870
He held high opinion of the au-
thority vested in him by reason of
his self-appointment to high places,
and proudly claimed to have been
the man who settled the differences
between France and Germany in
1870; also to have been instrumental
in bringing about peace in the war
between the North and the South.
At intervals he bestowed some high
sounding title upon himself, or
gravely accepted some mythical hon.
or. At one time he claimed to be
the crown prince of the throne of
France.
He lived in San Francisco, which
city be picturesquely termed the
Queen of the Pacific" At various
times he took trips over the state,
which were always free, as every one
humored the harmless old man. He
invariably went to Sacramento or
legislative winters and knew every
one from the senators to the pages.
He always carried number of
checks belonging to different banks
and, wher in need of money, gravely
wrote out q check and presented 1t
to some accommodating friend, who
would cash it for him. Besides this,
many of the San Francisco Jews
took care of him. When he felt in
the mood to issue a proclamation
to his subjects he repaired to the
office of a local paper and the
obliging editor published it.
In Trouble Only Once
Only once in his long career did
the emperor get into trouble, and
that was in January, 1857 when
some one had him arrested for lar
ceny and he suffered the ignominy
of spending the night in jail
He appeared in court the next
morning wrapped in a mantle of dig
nifty, and received the apologies of
the presiding judge, who happened
to know him. He seemed to feel
only contempt for his accuser. He
received his discharge immediately
and was returned a small sum of
money and several small articles
taken from his pockets. He signed
the police register: Norton, en-
peror of the United States and pro-
tector of Mexico" Having complet-
ed this formality he departed in
upon whom he had bestowed the
title of Grand Chamberlain of the
Palace"
He died in San Francisco, the city
he loved so well, January s, 1880.
He dropped on the street and never
regained consciousness.-Los Ange-
les Times