Joshua Norton proclaims himself Emperor Norton I

Background. Joshua Abraham Norton was born in England and raised in South Africa. He left Cape Town in late 1845, sailing to Boston in early 1846, and eventually arrived in San Francisco in late 1849. In September 1857, he served on a jury for a gold theft case. In August 1858, he ran an ad announcing his candidacy for US Congress. By 1859, he was completely discontented with the inadequacies of the legal and political structures of the United States.

Proclamation. In July 1859, Norton issued a brief manifesto addressed to the "Citizens of the Union." Two months later, on September 17, 1859, he hand-delivered a letter declaring himself "Emperor of these United States" to the offices of the Bulletin. He signed the proclamation as "Norton I., Emperor of the United States." He justified his reign by citing a need for political stability shortly before the American Civil War.

Publication. The Bulletin printed Norton's letter in its evening edition for humorous effect. This publication marked the beginning of Norton's whimsical twenty-year reign over the United States. Although he had no formal political power, he acted as emperor for the rest of his life and was treated deferentially in San Francisco.