“Well, your Majesty, what is the amount?”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Figure timeline
Emperor Norton
Joshua Abraham Norton was a resident of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 declared himself "Emperor of these United States" in a proclamation that he signed "Norton I., Emperor of the United States". Commonly known as Emperor Norton, he took the secondary title "Protector of Mexico" in 1866.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
business · Self-proclaimed Emperor of the United States (1818–1880) · pretender · businessperson · also Emperor Norton, Joshua Abraham Norton, Norton I, Emperor Norton I, Joshua A. Norton, Joshua Norton
Born 17 January 1811 · Died 8 January 1880 · Q299204
29 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
8 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 3 entries
“desirous of allaying the dissensions of party strife now existing within our realm.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
— the 90th anniversary of the bridge and the 180th anniversary of Emperor Norton's original arrival in the United States in 1846
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2023· 1 entry
(the 125th anniversary of the building) and in 2024 (the 175th anniversary of Joshua Norton's arrival in San Francisco), The Emperor Norton Trust returned to the Bay Bridge
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2022· 2 entries
The 150th anniversary of Emperor Norton's proclamations of 1872, setting out the original vision for the bridge
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
And the Trust suspended its bridge-naming effort
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2020· 1 entry
Was moved to Molloy's Tavern, in Colma, California, in 2021
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2018· 1 entry
SF Weekly: Emperor Norton Plaque Slated for Transbay Center
- #news
- #headline
2010· 1 entry
As part of the project to construct a new Salesforce Transit Center, and the plaque was placed in storage
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2004· 1 entry
The Board approved a modified version of this resolution, calling for only "new additions," i
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1986· 1 entry
In connection with the 50th anniversary of the bridge
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1939· 1 entry
The group E Clampus Vitus commissioned and dedicated a plaque commemorating Emperor Norton's call for the construction of a suspension bridge between San Francisco and Oakland
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1934· 1 entry
Norton's remains were transferred to a grave site at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Colma, California
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1880· 4 entries
Died 1880-01-08.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #death
“III. That all deeds by the Washington Government since the establishment of our Empire are hereby decreed null and void unless our Imperial signature is first obtained thereto.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:es
“Original: «Being desirous of allaying the dissensions of party strife now existing within our realm, I do hereby dissolve and abolish the Democratic and Republican parties, and also do hereby decree the disfranchisement and imprisonment, for not more than 10, nor less than five, years, to all persons leading to any violation of this our imperial decree.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:es
Following Norton's death, offered conflicting information about his date of birth
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1878· 1 entry
Emperor Norton appeared just before the start of proceedings, stood on a small box and challenged Kearney directly, telling him and the assembled crowd to disperse and go home
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1872· 1 entry
Although evidence is elusive for the authorship, date, or source of this decree:
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1869· 1 entry
“Given under our band this 18th day of August, 1869.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #lang:es
1867· 1 entry
To commit him to involuntary treatment for a mental disorder
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1864· 1 entry
Napoleon III, then Emperor of the French, installed the Habsburg Maximilian I as his puppet ruler
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1862· 2 entries
Ordering both the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant churches to publicly ordain him as "Emperor," hoping to resolve the many disputes that had resulted in the Civil War
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
The French Empire invaded Mexico after the latter was unable to pay war reparations following the disastrous Reform War
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1859· 3 entries
To formally abolish the United States Congress
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Norton hand-delivered the following letter declaring himself "Emperor of these United States" to the offices of the Bulletin:
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Declared himself "Emperor of these United States" in a proclamation that he signed "Norton I
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1843· 1 entry
Or 1844, Norton moved to Cape Town, where he joined his father's business
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1811· 1 entry
Born 1811-01-17.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth