Norton the First: America's Emperor

Norton declaring himself Emperor

"Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abominable word 'Frisco,' which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor, and shall pay into the Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars."

San Francisco has a long history of opening its arms to colorful characters, but few can rival Imperial Majesty Emperor Joshua Norton I, the self-proclaimed Emperor of the United States. This charming, if not a bit crazy, historical figure is now the subject of a long-overdue documentary: Emperor Norton was a South African immigrant who arrived in San Francisco in 1849 , just as the city was experiencing the rapid expansion brought on by the Gold Rush. He established himself as a businessman, but lost his money investing in rice. Following a self-imposed exile, he returned, and distributed letters to the major San Francisco newspaper, declaring himself "Emperor of these United States."It's a tribute to this wonderful city that he wasn't dragged to the loony bin. Instead, his letter was published in the, and his reign over America began. Norton became a beloved eccentric, and San Franciscans treated him with the respect and reverence an Emperor deserves. He was allowed to eat for free in the City's best restaurants, and his self-printed currency was often accepted as real money. Policemen saluted him. Operas and plays always had a balcony seat waiting for him.Norton spent his days wandering the streets, inspecting the sidewalks and cable cars, and talking with anyone who approached him. He also issued decrees, formally disbanding Congress and dissolving the Republican and Democratic parties. We particularly enjoy this legislative piece, requiring all Americans to treat San Francisco with the respect it deserves:C'mon City Hall, let's shake a leg on that one.The documentary chronicling the life of Emperor Norton is now being made, but, due to the lack of photographs and film from the 1870s, needs additional funds to create hand-drawn animations. If you'd like to donate towards the project, visit their Kickstarter page and help bring the story of Emperor Norton to the screen.