Joshua Norton
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Joshua Abraham Norton (1818 - 1880)

Joshua Abraham "Emperor Norton" Norton
Born in Deptford, Kent, England, United Kingdommap
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died at age 61 in San Francisco, California, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 21 May 2017
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Biography

Notables Project
Joshua Norton is Notable.

Joshua Abraham Norton, known as Emperor Norton, was a citizen of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 proclaimed himself "Norton I, Emperor of the United States". He later assumed the secondary title of "Protector of Mexico".

Born in England, Norton spent most of his early life in South Africa. Joshua worked for his father, first as a clerk, then as Master of one of his ships sailing from Cape Town to Chile and Peru. After the death of his mother in 1846 and his father in 1848, he sold the business and headed for Brazil. He might have stayed there, but in 1849 news came of a fabulous gold strike in California. Joshua arrived in California with his $40,000 savings in a trunk, intent on joining the gold rush. He then realized that he would do better by trading in the Boom town. He imported coal, bricks, tea, flour and beef, and made huge profits. However, after an unsuccessful investment in rice he lost money, and was declared bankrupt in 1856.

Joshua then became obsessed by the troubles of America. He told his friends that a war between the North and the South was inevitable unless a firm ruler took over. So he proclaimed himself Emperor of the United States'.

For a fuller account see 'The World's Greatest Cranks and Crackpots' by Margaret Nicholas (Hamlyn, London 1990) and Wikipedia—Emperor Norton

Sources

  • "Heese, J.A. & Lombard, R.T.J. “South African Genealogies 1” Human Sciences Research Council, 1992, ISBN 0-620-23962-1 v.6 p. 454" [McArthur-306 : Ian McArthur - 21 May 2017]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/766/joshua-abraham-norton : accessed 23 April 2018), memorial page for Joshua Abraham “Emperor Norton I” Norton (4 Feb 1818–8 Jan 1880), Find A Grave: Memorial #766, citing Woodlawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA ; Maintained by Find a Grave.


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