The Emperor of the United States Norton I
Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico
(Author's note: This story had a lot more fun when there was no Wikipedia, or when it was not the monster of information it is today. This is a story that now anyone can know looking for a bit, but about five years ago to me was truly amazing. That said, here we go ...)
Joshua Abraham Norton had born around 1815. Other sources (such as his own epitaph) suggests that birth occurred a few years later, in 1819. What is clear is born in London, where he spent his early childhood. When the child stopped being so tender, and children begin to mourn for pure selfishness, not by natural necessity, the child's family moved to South Africa Joshua, who was then a British colony, to Cape Town. This should occur around 1820. This seems more clear, thanks to immigration records that carried out the British. Family descended from traders, and as such, there amassed a considerable fortune. There, in South Africa, had spent much of his youth, until the 40 century XIX. Then, some sources indicate he left for Brazil to continue making a fortune. What seems clear is that in 1849 he was in San Francisco, the city where will this story ...
It was only 2 years that San Francisco had such a name because it belonged to Mexico until 1847 under the name of Yerba Buena. And just, what a coincidence, agreed the change of hands of Alta California with the Gold Rush. " Thus, the 1849 San Francisco was an emerging city, full of people eager to find some gold to improve their domestic economies and rich merchants willing to make a killing at the expense of a city that grew by leaps and bounds. Joshua was one of the latter.
In San Francisco, Joshua received his inheritance from his father, and her thriving business that made huge profits reported ( pedantry sponsored by the RAE), but much covers little tightening, and greed broke the sack, captured cargoes of rice, taking advantage of the blockade of China, and instead of selling the goods at high prices, decided to await the result was reached by another shipment, it is said that in Peru, and had to eat one by one grain of rice that did not sell in time ... Joshua was found wrecked and got into bad company litigation.
This is probably the root of his eccentric behavior later. Wiki Pedia professor said that, after leaving San Francisco for a while (he spent about ten years without knowing anything about him), " at some point in the home of friends have commented that if" was Emperor of the United States would be big changes " ." But who has not uttered that phrase ever changing U.S. Spain, Europe, the World or Universe? I, personally, about five times day, accompanied by proclamations as friendly as " less buenrollismo and more Stalinism " or " those Appreciation gave me a good dose of gulag . " But mine is special case, back to S. XIX.
Joshua returned to the "public life" to 1858. Watched with regret was how badly the country, and they were rotten political and legal systems. Probably shaking his head from side to side, decided to write a press release the San Francisco Bulletin, September 17, 1859. It read:
"Given the urgent request of the majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now and for the past nine years and ten months of San Francisco, California, I declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these United States, and by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby command and urge you to representatives of the various States of the Union meet in the Music Hall of this city the next day February 1 in order to make relevant changes to the existing laws of the Union to alleviate the ills under which our country works, helping to build confidence, here and abroad, in our stability and integrity. "
he lacked value to mush.
People did not know how to take it ... And I took it. More so when the December 2 of that year issued a second decree, stopping by the Council in Virginia to implement a death sentence. In the same decree, Norton I appointed a substitute, one John C. Breckenridge. In the following, dated July 16, 1860, accusing the Congress and the President (at the time, James Buchanan, predecessor of "Abe" Lincoln) as corrupt. The edict in question was this:
"Given that a group of men who call themselves practicing in Congress are now in the city of Washington, violating the imperial edict declaring abolished and that the decree must be met in full. Then he tells the commander of military forces, General Scott at the time of termination of this Decree, under the command of the forces needed leave the halls of Congress. "
As you can guess, nobody paid or bloody event in Washington, but San Franciscans found in him someone who would your life more fun ... And I followed suit. He was born Norton I, Emperor of the United States.
In 20 years of "reign" I launched Norton various decrees more. Some touched the surreal (fine Frisco callers to the city of San Francisco with $ 25, order the cleaning of Sacramento and illuminate their streets leading to the Capitol) and others were more thorough (like building a bridge that would unite the two ends of the bay without obstructing the maritime traffic; years later would become a reality: the Golden Gate). He became a respected man, who was bowed down the street. And he got fully into their role, share. His "power" went so far as the people wanted. For example, says he always had the best table in restaurants (and always on the house) and a reserved seat in the theaters (and room for their two dogs, Bummer and Lazarus, who deserve a separate article). He even closed the railway company because it was not served in the dining car of one of its convoys. Immediately, the company apologized and Norton I happened to have a preferred seat in the train of that company, and free meals on the routes.
And say, "and Protector of Mexico? Then again, based on Decree:
" Given the inability Mexicans to govern its own affairs, I, Norton I, assume the role of Protector of Mexico. "
Ole, ole, ole. This surely Doing so cash between imperial proclamation and the dissolution of the Union and Congress. You have to understand that Mexico, at the time, was in full civil war between moderates and liberals ...
Thus, among other things, also says wearing a dress, as seen in the image, half military, half civilian. When I felt too worn and corroded, the council the city gave him another, new and shiny. I guess so did the flags and all the trappings of empire. Fly-To no staff, no two Sundays in a row was the same church, and trying to please all sects.
The seat of government was in the abovementioned Music Hall in San Francisco, though he lived in a modest apartment, listed as "dark gray" decorated with portraits of Napoleon III and Victoria I. .. When the Music Hall burned to the ground, Norton I sent a new decree ordered the transfer of its National Convention at the Assembly Hall on February 5, 1861.
But his reign also suffered hard times. He was even arrested in 1867 by a police officer should not be too strict to be of the people and found grace in His Majesty. Accused of being unbalanced and being a mass shaker, the officer stopped him Armand Barbier. You can imagine the fuss that was formed ... The police chief was quick to put a free, publicly apologizing. Since that time, any police officer who crossed with Norton I had to pay a bow.
not only as the Golden Gate was a visionary in his own way. In a decree dated July 25, 1869 asking citizens to donate to San Francisco Frederick Marriott money so that he carry out his experiments air. Oh, if the USAF had already formed in 1869 ... Shortly thereafter, in August, declared abolished political parties, " Dissent (party) that exists within our realm ." Is not he adorable?
The 70's were more relaxed. Norton I were around sixty, and that should weigh. Still, continued to issue decrees, such as ordering the Grand Hotel furnish their rooms on penalty of banishment, or call for a convention on the Bible in San Francisco for 2 Feber, 1873.
But since 1873 no more decrees. Remained the Emperor, and hailed and revered by the streets, no doubt. Proof of this is that his funeral was massive. Norton I died a January 8, 1870, while walking along Grant Avenue, to the Academy of Natural Science, where he planned to attend a public reading. The newspapers quickly echoed the news. Thus, on day 9, the Morning Call printed the following headline on its front page:
"Norton I, by the Grace of God Emperor of the States and Protector of Mexico, has died." 
And the day 10 was buried in the Masonic cemetery in the city (where else ... Does anyone doubt that a character is not as extravagant Mason?). The funeral procession reached the two-mile long, and about 10,000 people attended the funeral. Later, in 1934, was transferred to Woodlaw Cemetery by the citizens of San Francisco.
For if there is any doubt of its authenticity, Joshua Abraham Norton appears in the census of San Francisco, 1870. Occupation: Emperor. In addition, tickets printed, semi-legal course in San Francisco, where were exchanged for U.S. dollars, 1:1. Today they are a rarity, and as such, its price is no longer even, is exorbitant.
The main source for this article has not been as Wikipedia as the Museum of the City of San Francisco ( www.sfmuseum.org and www.emperornorton.net , where you can find many (but many) photos of the Emperor, and some edicts preserved). Thank you very much to both, and you, for reading.
God save the Emperor!
