RastaPope
Dead is dead.
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2002
- Posts
- 4,222
In the mid 1800's there was a man named Joshua Norton. Born in England, he immigrated to San Fransisco at the age of 30. Shortly after arriving, he proclaimed himself to be Joshua Norton, Emperor of San Fransisco and the United States.
"At the pre-emptory 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 Fransisco, California, declare and proclaim myself the Emperor of These United States. - September 17, 1859"
He made all sorts of proclamations ranging from the name of the city to ordering the Golden Gate bridge to be built. He printed up his own money that was actually accepted by a great many persons and establishments in the city. Today it's worth much more than it's face value.
Even though he seemed a bit off his rocker, the man tried to do a lot of good for the city of SF. He ensured city ordainances were enforced, patroled constuction sites for safety, made sure the police were doing their jobs, even checking on needed street repairs. In 1869, he abolished the Republican and Democrat parties in an attempt to put an end to their still going strife.
When he died in 1880, an estimated 10,000 to 30,000 people attended his funeral, ranging from civilian populace to heads of state.
He's one of my personal heros.
"At the pre-emptory 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 Fransisco, California, declare and proclaim myself the Emperor of These United States. - September 17, 1859"
He made all sorts of proclamations ranging from the name of the city to ordering the Golden Gate bridge to be built. He printed up his own money that was actually accepted by a great many persons and establishments in the city. Today it's worth much more than it's face value.
Even though he seemed a bit off his rocker, the man tried to do a lot of good for the city of SF. He ensured city ordainances were enforced, patroled constuction sites for safety, made sure the police were doing their jobs, even checking on needed street repairs. In 1869, he abolished the Republican and Democrat parties in an attempt to put an end to their still going strife.
When he died in 1880, an estimated 10,000 to 30,000 people attended his funeral, ranging from civilian populace to heads of state.
He's one of my personal heros.
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