Norton The First: The Story Of America's Self-Proclaimed Emperor

In the rough-and-tumble world of Gold Rush San Francisco, a bankrupt merchant named Joshua Norton did the unthinkable and declared himself Emperor of the United States. Instead of being locked away in an asylum for his delusion, the city embraced him as their sovereign, bowing to his authority for over twenty years. This true story explores how one man’s absolute refusal to accept failure transformed him into a beloved American icon.

Discover how Norton I ruled his empire without an army or a treasury, financing his reign by selling his own hand-signed bonds to amused bankers. Read about his audacious decrees, including his order to dissolve the U.S. Congress by force and his visionary demand for a bridge across the San Francisco Bay. Witness a city that played along with the fantasy, where police officers saluted him and restaurant owners competed for the privilege of feeding him for free.

While the federal government in Washington ignored his letters, the citizens of San Francisco protected him from the harsh realities of poverty and the law. This narrative reveals the fascinating dynamic between a destitute man who claimed to be king and a society that decided to treat him like one. It is a study of charisma, community, and the power of a perfectly executed performance.

Step into a forgotten chapter of American history where the line between madness and majesty was completely erased. This book separates the man from the myth, delivering a detailed account of the life and times of America’s first and only monarch. Join the court of Emperor Norton I and see why his legacy endures long after the real tycoons of the era have been forgotten.