Tag: Emperor Norton I

Several Facts about His Imperial Majesty Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Defender of Mexico

  • The self proclaimed ‘Imperial Majesty’ Emperor Norton I was born Joshua Abraham Norton in London in 1819 and died in San Francisco in January 1880
  • Norton first moved to San Francisco in 1849 seeking to make a fortune in business and real estate.  He was lured to San Francisco as were so many others by the Gold Rush. By 1852, the $40,000 he started with had grown to $250,000 (about 5 Million dollars in today’s terms.
  • Due to a few bad investments, mainly a rice deal gone bad and the ensuing legal fees that a court battle brought, Norton filed for bankruptcy in 1856.
  • September 17, 1859, Editor George Finch of the San Francisco Bulletin was handed an article by a man he described as “neatly dressed and serious looking” This paper read:

    “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 Francisco, California, declare and proclaim myself the 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.”
    –Emperor Norton I

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  • Norton added “Protector of Mexico” in 1863 when Napoleon III invaded Mexico.
  • Except when it came to talking about himself and his role on the world stage, Norton could and would talk intelligently and sanely on almost any subject
  • Norton was courted by politicians as they realized that disrespecting him would lose them votes.
  • In 1867, a police officer tried to arrest Norton for vagrancy. When his Desk Sergeant pointed out that he actually had over $4.00 and an apartment key on his person, the charge was changed to lunacy. Every single paper slammed the police  officer and a public outcry was stirred up about Norton’s arrest. One paper  The California Daily Alta wrote:

    “The Emperor Norton has never shed any blood. He has robbed no one and despoiled no country. And that gentlemen is a hell of a lot better than could be said for anyone else in the king line”

    The chief of police released Norton with a public apology and from then on police officers would salut Norton when he passed them on the street.