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Emperor Norton. Born in England and raised in South Africa, Joshua Abraham Norton (1818 – 1880) was an immigrated resident of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 proclaimed himself "Norton I, Emperor of the United States." Commonly known as Emperor Norton, he took the secondary title "Protector of Mexico" in 1863, after Napoleon III ...
- Early Life
- Business Failure
- Emperor of The United States
- Official Acts as Emperor
- Death and Funeral
- Legacy
- Emperor Norton in Literature
- Contemporary Recognition
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Joshua Norton's parents were English Jews who first left England to move to South Africain 1820 as part of a government colonization scheme. They were part of a group that came to be known as the "1820 Settlers." Norton's birthdate is in some dispute, but February 4, 1818, is the best determination based on ship records and the celebration of his b...
In December 1852, China responded to a famine by placing a ban on export of rice to other countries. It caused the price of rice in San Francisco to skyrocket. After hearing of a ship returning to California from Perucarrying 200,000 lbs. of rice, Joshua Norton attempted to corner the rice market. Shortly after he purchased the entire shipment, sev...
Joshua Norton disappeared for a year or so after his bankruptcy declaration. When he returned to the public spotlight, many believed he lost not only his wealth but his mind, too. On September 17, 1859, he distributed letters to newspapers around the city of San Francisco declaring himself Emperor Norton I of the United States. The "San Francisco B...
October 12, 1859: Formally abolished the U.S. Congress.December 2, 1859: Declared that Governor Henry Wise of Virginia should leave the office for the execution of abolitionist John Brownand John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky inaugurated in his place.July 16, 1860: Dissolved the United States of America.August 12, 1869: Dissolved and abolished the Democratic and Republican parties because of party strife.On January 8, 1880, Joshua Norton collapsed on the corner of California and Dupont Streets. The latter is now named Grant Avenue. He was on his way to attend a lecture at the California Academy of Sciences. Police immediately sent for a carriage to take him to the City Receiving Hospital. However, he died before a carriage could arrive. A search of...
Although many of Emperor Norton's proclamations were considered to be nonsensical ravings, his words about the construction of a bridge and subway to connect Oakland and San Francisco now appear prescient. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was completed on November 12, 1936. In 1969 the Transbay Tube was completed to host the Bay Area Rapid Tran...
Joshua Norton was immortalized in a wide range of popular literature. He inspired the character of "the King" in Mark Twain'snovel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Mark Twain lived in San Francisco during part of Emperor Norton's reign. Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "The Wrecker," published in 1892, includes Emperor Norton as a character. The...
In recent years, the memory of Emperor Norton has been kept alive throughout popular culture. He has been a subject of operas by Henry Mollicone and John S. Bowman as well as Jerome Rosen and James Schevill. American composer Gino Robair also wrote an opera "I, Norton" which has been performed in both North America and Europe since 2003. Kim Ohanne...
Learn about the life and claims of Joshua Norton, who declared himself "Emperor of the United States" in 1859 and became a San Francisco icon. Find out how he was celebrated, arrested, and memorialized by the city and its citizens.
Mar 1, 2018 · Learn about Joshua Norton, who declared himself Emperor of the United States in 1859 after losing his fortune in the Gold Rush. Discover how he became a beloved and influential figure in San Francisco's history and culture.
- Ryan Levi
- KQED Contributor
Learn about the mysterious and colorful life of Joshua Norton, who proclaimed himself Emperor of the United States in 1859. Explore his origins, his rise and fall in San Francisco, and his legacy as a cultural icon.
Jan 6, 2017 · Learn about Joshua Norton, a wealthy shipping magnate who went insane and declared himself the emperor of the US in 1859. Discover how he became a media sensation, a cultural legend, and a source of inspiration for modern-day San Francisco.
- Joe Kukura
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Feb 26, 2019 · Learn about Joshua Norton, a former businessman who declared himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico in 1859. Discover how he became a beloved and influential figure in San Francisco, despite his eccentricity and poverty.
In 1859, a San Francisco eccentric proclaimed himself "Emperor of these United States." His colorful existence leads us all to consider how we see reality. ...
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- The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered
