Special Sub-Topic: Joshua Norton I Click Here To Play: Joshua Norton I

Why did Joshua Norton I travel to San Francisco?

To corner the rice market. He came to corner the rice market but when laws were passed banning the importation of rice he lost everything and blamed the US Government for his losses.

In 1859 Joshua Norton gave himself a grandiose title. What was it?

Joshua Norton I Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico. He issued 'decrees', and the papers picked up the story, making money hand over fist. The majority of decrees attributed to him were actually invented newspaper editors.

On December 2nd, 1859 Norton issued a decree that in effect dismissed Governor Wise of Virginia and replaced him with John Breckenridge. What was it that Wise did to infuriate him?

Let John Brown hang for his role at Harper's Ferry. Of course it never went anywhere and Governor Wise retained his Governorship.

Joshua Norton's next two decrees also went unnoticed, what were they?

Dissolution of the United States and barring Congress from meeting. According to one account he wrote orders to General Winfield Scott telling him to take as many troops as necessary and rid the halls of the infidels. Scott just laughed and threw the orders away.

In 1861 a new theater opened in San Francisco called Tucker's Hall. They jumped on the fame that Joshua Norton was getting by performing this play in honor of him. What was it called?

Norton I. It was also known as "An Emperor for a Day".

Was Joshua Norton ever arrested for his actions by the federal government?

n. No, he wasn't because everyone thought he was a joke. But he was arrested for involuntary treatment of a mental condition. The Police Chief of San Francisco issued an apology to him because of the furore it caused. After this officers saluted him on the street when he passed.

In 1869 Johsua Norton issued a decree that the Democratic and Republican parties be dissolved. What was the penalty if they did not?

5-10 years in prison. In his decree he gives the reason for it as party strife "within our realm".

What did Joshua Norton order built to connect San Francisco and Oakland?

A suspension bridge. He was ahead of his time. Earlier he ordered the city to donate money to a friend so his friend could continue his airship experiments. When the city ignored him he ordered the arrest of the Board of Supervisors.

Did Joshua Norton ever tell a city other than San Francisco what to do?

y. He ordered Sacramento to clean its streets and put up gaslights leading the way to the State Capitol. The answers so far have been taken from this site: http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/norton.html

Was there ever official money printed with Joshua Norton's likeness on it?

n. No, not officially but he did have his own specially printed money that some eateries took in exchange for services. Among his possessions when he died in 1870, were a number of hats and cablegrams from crowned heads of Europe and Russia. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/12/15/MNGUMAC6LN1.DTL