NON-FICTION SAN FRANCISCO

Emperor Norton

The Mad Monarch of San Francisco

In the eccentric annals of history, one name shines brighter than the Golden Gate Bridge itself: Emperor Norton. Born Joshua Abraham Norton in 1818, this peculiar character claimed the title of “Emperor of the United States” in 1859 and became a cherished icon of San Francisco’s quirk and charm. Let’s dive into the life of the man who declared himself sovereign and left behind a legacy as fascinating as it is bizarre.

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Norton I, Emperor of the United States

The Birth of an Empire

Norton’s rise to imperial fame began after a business venture gone horribly wrong. Following a failed attempt to corner the rice market, Norton re-emerged, not as a defeated entrepreneur but as Emperor Norton I, issuing proclamations to abolish Congress and…