The Strange Story of Norton I, Emperor of the United States
By: Alienworkshop
Tags: Politics, American History, History, America, United States

The Strange Story of Norton I, Emperor of the United States

A man claiming himself as the emperor of the United States

Did you know that there was an emperor in the United States? Not a real emperor, but just a man who made himself emperor of the United States. But what is amazing is how he earned respect, great fame, and his name inspired many famous literary works. This is the story of Norton I, the Emperor of America.

Some people succeeded in becoming kings or emperors by birth, while the rest took the throne by seizing power and conquering territory. But there is a different story. A man appointed himself Emperor of the United States.

On September 17, 1859, a bizarre proclamation appeared in the San Francisco Bulletin. It was conveyed as if it was an essential proclamation that stated:-

At the peremptory request and desire 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 9 years and 10 months past of San Francisco, California, declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these United States; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby order and direct the representatives of the different States of the Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of February next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and abroad, in our stability and integrity. — NORTON I., Emperor of the United States.

His name is Joshua Abraham Norton (1818-1880). He proclaimed "The Beginning of Emperor Norton I, Emperor of the United States" and "Protector of Mexico."

Norton was born in England but spent most of his childhood in South Africa with his family. He then moved to San Francisco to try his hand at the Gold Rush of 1849, having inherited $ 40,000 from his father’s property.

Norton got into the real estate business, and in the early 1850s, he managed to convert his $ 40,000 worth of money into a quarter of a million dollars. But like many Gold Rush era speculators, Norton was getting greedy.

In 1853, in anticipation of a rice shortage in San Francisco, he invested in Peruvian rice. With no other rice deliveries, he hopes to sell rice at a high price and make a lot of money. But it turns out that he was tricked. San Francisco has no shortage of rice at all.

The ships carrying Peruvian rice landed in San Francisco the next day after it had supplied such a large quantity. The results were fatal. Rice floods the market, prices plummet. Norton then filed a lawsuit. He went to court and spent two years in legitimacy without success and eventually lost all his wealth. He was then declared bankrupt and then disappeared from San Francisco for a long time.

Portrait crop of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I. Source: Wikipedia.org

In September 1859, Norton returned. But something was strange. He suddenly claims to be the Emperor of the United States. He posted announcements in local newspapers. Many suspected that he was mentally unwell, but he never showed any signs of mental instability. But it seems that he has lost his mind along with the loss of his wealth.

Even though he was thought to be crazy, San Francisco people were happy with his presence. The people of San Francisco didn’t laugh or think he was crazy. They supported Norton wholeheartedly. According to the people, if that man wants to be emperor, let him be emperor.

One of his most famous statements from him was that the United States Congress must be dissolved immediately. He also said he would change the country’s law for the better. Norton also issued several emperor decrees calling for constructing a footbridge and tunnel under San Francisco Bay.

But oddly enough, even though he had no political power, he was treated with respect throughout San Francisco.

Emperor Norton I always had an eccentric look. He wears a Navy coat emblazoned with epaulets and an ostrich feather hat on his head and occasionally carries a military sword.

Norton, perhaps living in his imagination for his greatness as an American emperor, would usually go for a walk around the streets of San Francisco and greet people in a friendly manner. The residents of San Francisco also seemed to serve his madness. They were not at all bothered by what Norton was doing. In fact, they were happy.

In uniform, Emperor Norton I walked every day around the city, checking the sidewalks, public property, and civil servants to make sure everything was right. He was usually accompanied by two stray dogs named Bumner and Lazarus. Norton also occasionally reads in the library or plays chess. The residents greeted him with respect, offering free food, free theater tickets, free train tickets, and more.

They also listened to his philosophical speeches. Some residents are even willing to pay taxes voluntarily. Norton can live a more decent and comfortable life in a rented apartment because Norton actually lives in a flat. Some of the soldiers also gave him a new uniform, in a striking blue color that also features gold epaulets, when they saw that the man’s uniform was worn.

Sometimes the San Francisco Board of Trustees takes public funds to pay a city tailor to make him newer. When the Norton emperor decided to issue his own currency, the printing company in town even offered to print the currency for free. These strange things continued to appear in the city’s newspapers and made him even more famous.

In 1867, a private security guard named Armand Barbier with local troops intended to arrest Emperor Norton I on charges of mental health problems. They planned to send him to a mental hospital. But it turned out that the San Francisco public was furious.

The local daily Alta said there was no reason to arrest Norton, as he had not injured anyone at all. Norton was soon released, and he also showed generosity by forgiving Armand Barbier and his troops. After the incident, the city police even paid their respects when they met him on the streets.

Emperor Norton, I quickly became one of the most famous figures in San Francisco. Tourists often ask to take pictures together. Souvenir shops also sell Emperor Norton I dolls as souvenirs.

Once upon a time, when Emperor Pedro II visited San Francisco, the residents asked the Emperor of Brazil to meet with Emperor Norton I. The two of them actually met, talked, and had tea together.

On January 8, 1880, while en-route to study at the California Academy of Sciences, Emperor Norton I suffered a heart attack and collapsed on the road. A policeman came to his aid to take him to the hospital. But it's too late. He was pronounced dead in hospital.

Nearly 30,000 people packed the streets of San Francisco to pay their final respects to Norton. His death made headlines in many American newspapers. After his death, rumors had circulated over the years about him secretly possessing a lot of treasure, but he was so poor that he didn't even have enough money to pay for his funeral.

Originally Norton was going to be buried at the poor's cemetery, but then a businessman from the Pacific Club San Francisco donated money to organize a sizable funeral. A large number of townspeople came to pay their respects to him. Emperor Norton I was buried in the San Francisco Masonic Cemetery.

Emperor Norton I also received the attention of the world’s leading literary figures. Mark Twain and Robert Louis Stevenson immortalized him as a character in their respective novels, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Wrecker.