Joshua Abraham Norton (ca. 1815 – January 8, 1880), also known as His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, was a celebrated citizen of San Francisco who proclaimed himself "Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico" in 1859. Some sources list his date of birth as February 14, 1819. Although he had no political power, and his influence extended only so far as he was humored by those around him, he was treated deferentially in San Francisco, and currency issued in his name was honored in the establishments he frequented. Norton also wrote to Queen Victoria, and he was referred to as His Imperial Majesty by local citizens and in the newspaper obituaries announcing his death.

Though he was generally considered insane, or at least highly eccentric, the citizens of San Francisco (and the world at large) in the mid-to-late 19th century celebrated his presence, his humor, and his deeds—among the most notorious being his "order" that the U.S. Congress be dissolved by force, and his numerous decrees calling for a bridge to be built across San Francisco Bay. The King in Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is reportedly modeled after him.

He is considered a saint by the followers of Discordianism and is referenced repeatedly in the seminal work of the religion, the Principia Discordia.

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Everyone needs to look up Emperor Joshua Abraham Norton. That's going to be me.
shredded_angel (Gary Potter) Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:46:37 -0000
Everyone needs to look up Emperor Joshua Abraham Norton. That's going to be me.
Just played: W.E.E.K.E.N.D. - Arling and Cameron - Songs For Imaginary Films(Emperor Norton)
wtul_playlist (WTUL) Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:41:07 -0000
Just played: W.E.E.K.E.N.D. - Arling and Cameron - Songs For Imaginary Films(Emperor Norton)
♫ Emperor Norton - Feliz Navidad
xmasinfrisko (xmasinfrisko) Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:27:37 -0000
♫ Emperor Norton - Feliz Navidad
Just played: Hot Asphalt - Cinemaphonic - Electro Soul(Emperor Norton Records)
wtul_playlist (WTUL) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:41:42 -0000
Just played: Hot Asphalt - Cinemaphonic - Electro Soul(Emperor Norton Records)
Here's a good photoset of some Arisia performances http://bit.ly/5AUxlY. Including Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band.
coyotetoo (Coyote Too) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:38:17 -0000
Here's a good photoset of some Arisia performances http://bit.ly/5AUxlY. Including Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band.
RT @Fionabloom: So excited- Emperor Norton Tees giveaways for our @studiowebsterhall show tomorrow @terrypoison @izsantamaria cool!
IzSantamaria (Irizarry Santamaria) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:13:03 -0000
RT @Fionabloom: So excited- Emperor Norton Tees giveaways for our @studiowebsterhall show tomorrow @terrypoison @izsantamaria cool!

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