Bizarre characters of History:
Norton the First, by the grace of God Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico
Norton the First, by the grace of God Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico
Proclamation of 17 Sep 1859:
"At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U. S.; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby order and direct the representatives of the different States of the Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of Feb. next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and abroad, in our stability and integrity.
NORTON I, Emperor of the United States"
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/norton.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_I
http://www.kudzumonthly.com/kudzu/mar02/Emperor.html
"At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U. S.; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby order and direct the representatives of the different States of the Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of Feb. next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and abroad, in our stability and integrity.
NORTON I, Emperor of the United States"
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/norton.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_I
http://www.kudzumonthly.com/kudzu/mar02/Emperor.html
I remember reading about this guy back in High School. He just said "Hay I am taking over."
ReplyDeleteWhat a nut job.
dafrca
What is more amazing is that so many citzens of San Francisco said "OK" and humoured him!
ReplyDeletePaul - King for Life of the South West Pacific & Lord of all that walks, crawls, flies an slithers in his domain.
Americans have always had a love/hate thing for royalty. We claim we do not want it, but then we seem to create it over and over for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteMovie Stars, Politicians, Sport Stars...
We just keep trying to have royal without them being royals.
Me, I would rather have a real royal who acted the part then some of the dorks we have right now as psudo-royals who are whacky and insane.
dafrca
At least Royals (even the inbred and insane ones!) have breeding and education and try to use their influence for good (as Patrons etc). Unlike many of the trumped up ones you quite rightly refer to, who then dont know what to do with their fame and provide less than exemplary examples.
ReplyDelete