Emperor That Once Ruled The United States Has Almost Been Erased From History Books
Have you heard of the name Joshua Norton? Many Americans have forgotten him, but not residents of San Francisco. The once successful businessman made quite a name for himself in the mid-1800s. But when a deal went wrong, Norton took on a new prospect. He became the one and only "monarch" of the United States, and he was dead serious about his claim. Before long, Emperor Norton was stirring up more trouble than California could handle.
Man Who Would Be King
The whole matter of the first Emperor of the United States should not have happened at all. The self-proclaimed monarch rose to power thanks to heavy newspaper coverage, particularly when the San Francisco Evening Bulletin published the man's proclamation. Soon, everyone was scratching their heads. Who was this "new" ruler?
Making Money
Joshua Norton was at one time a fairly average citizen — albeit one that was very rich. Living in San Francisco, Norton entered during the dwindling days of the California gold rush. Many of his fellow citizens were losing the game of striking it rich. The same couldn't be said about Norton.
Rising in Riches
Norton's existing family fortune ballooned once he started a career in importing goods in the Golden Gate City, all within the span of three years. If estimations are correct, Norton's wealth grew to the equivalent of $8 million today. Unfortunately, his glory days weren't meant to last.
New Prospects
Rice caused Norton's failure. Chinese officials, dealing with a famine, banned the export of rice, and a global shortage followed. Prices went up, and Norton saw an opportunity. He invested in Peruvian rice, believing once it made landfall in California, it would become a valuable staple. That was not the case.
