sep 17, 1859 - Emperor Norton

Description:

Later that year It seems most likely that Joshua remained "in town," although possibly in a reclusive depression and removed from the public eye. But he re-emerged in the pages of the San Francisco Evening Bulletin newspaper, with the following Proclamation published on 17 September 1859:
At the peremptory request 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 nine years and ten months past of San Francisco, California, 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 February 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 (he later added the title “Protector of Mexico” in 1863, when Napoleon III invaded Mexico)