Author: Matt Davis / Source: Big Think
- Joshua Norton was once a successful businessman before he fell into ruin and what some contend to be madness.
- Norton declared himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico in 1859 “at the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States. ”
- During his time as emperor, Norton abolished Congress and political parties, requested the formation of the League of Nations, issued currency, and was much-loved by the people of San Francisco.
In the late 19th century, a lucky patron of one of San Francisco’s many restaurants might see a rare and auspicious sight: A man dressed in blue uniform with gold epaulettes, wearing a hat set off with a peacock feather and a decorative rose, and wielding a sabre. Looking closer, that lucky patron might notice that although the man’s uniform was distinct, it was maybe a bit shabby; looking even closer, they might catch him paying for his meal with a piece of currency from ‘The Imperial Government of Norton I’.
If that lucky patron was a stranger to San Francisco, there’s no doubt this would have been an entirely bewildering experience. But any native San Franciscan from this time would recognize one of the city’s most cherished citizens: Joshua Abraham Norton, whose (un)official title was Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico.
Wikimedia Commons
Currency from the Imperial Government of Norton I.
The rise and fall of Joshua Norton, businessman
Norton hadn’t always been the Emperor of the United States and the Protector of Mexico. First, he was a San Francisco businessman. Born in London but raised in South Africa, Norton came to San Francisco in 1849. The story goes that he arrived in San Francisco with an inheritance of $40,000 and, over the course of a few short years, grew that sum into $250,000 (roughly $8 million as of this writing) by buying and selling commodities and speculating in real estate. This is likely an exaggerated story, but it is true that Norton was a successful businessman. Until, that is, he made a disastrous gamble on rice.
China had just banned the export of rice so that their own starved citizens could eat, meaning the price of rice in San Francisco had grown to exorbitant levels. Norton bought an incoming ship’s worth of rice, trying to corner the market and capitalize on rice’s high prices. However, more ships carrying rice came causing the price to drop precipitously. Rather than take his losses and move on, Norton engaged in a years-long litigation with his rice dealer. Gradually, his fortune dwindled, he defaulted on his debts, and Norton’s fortune broke. With his fortune, it seems his mind broke as well.
Wikimedia Commons
Emperor Norton in his uniform.
The rise of Joshua Norton, emperor
By 1859, newspapers across the city began to print the following declaration:
At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of…
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