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Many of the decrees attributed to Norton I were fakes; written in jest by
newspaper editors at the time for amusement, or for political purposes.
Those decrees listed here were, we believe, actually issued by
Norton.
December 2, 1859 Norton I dismissed Gov. Wise of Virginia for hanging John Brown and appointed John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky to replace him. February 1, 1860 Decree from Norton I ordered representatives of the different states to assemble at Platts Music Hall to change laws to ameloriate the evils under which the country was laboring. July 16, 1860 Decree from Norton I dissolved the United States of America. October 1, 1860 Decree from Norton I barred Congress from meeting in Washington, D.C. February 5, 1861 Norton I changed the place of his National Convention to Assembly Hall, Post and Kearny, because Platts Music Hall had burned. September 17, 1861 A new theater, Tuckers Hall, opened with a performance of Norton the First, or "An Emperor for a Day." October 1863 Death of Lazarus, Emperor Nortons dog. February 14, 1864 Norton I arrived in Marysville to join the celebration of the opening of the railroad.
November 11, 1865 Mark Twain wrote an epitaph for Bummer, the long- January 21, 1867 An overzealous Patrol Special Officer, Armand Barbier, arrested His Majesty Norton I for involuntary treatment of a mental disorder and thereby created a major civic uproar. Police Chief Patrick Crowley apologized to His Majesty and ordered him released. Several scathing newspaper editorials followed the arrest. All police officers began to salute His Majesty when he passed them on the street. July 25, 1869 Decree from Norton I that San Franciscans advance money to Frederick Marriott for his airship experiments. August 12, 1869 Decree from Norton I dissolved and abolished the Democratic and Republican parties because of party strife now existing within our realm. December 15, 1869 Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, left San Francisco to seek his yearly tribute from the legislature and lobbyists. He inspected the new capitol during the gala ball celebrating the buildings inauguration. December 16, 1869 Decree by Norton I demanded that Sacramento clean its muddy streets and place gaslights on streets leading to the capitol. August 1, 1870 Norton I was listed by the Census taker with the occupation of emperor, living at 624 Commercial St. September 21, 1870 Decree from Norton I that the Grand Hotel furnish him rooms under penalty of being banished. March 23, 1872 Decree by Norton I that a suspension bridge be built as soon as convenient between Oakland Point and Goat Island, and then on to San Francisco. September 21, 1872 Norton I ordered a survey to determine if a bridge or tunnel would be the best possible means to connect Oakland and San Francisco. He also ordered the arrest of the Board of Supervisors for ignoring his decrees. January 2, 1873 Decree from Norton I that a worldwide Bible Convention be held in San Francisco on this day. March 18, 1873 David Belasco made his stage debut at the Metropolitan Theatre playing Emperor Norton in the play The Gold Demon. January 8, 1880 Norton I dropped dead on California St. at Grant Ave. He was on his way to a lecture at the Academy of Natural Sciences. January 9, 1880 Headline in the Morning Call: Norton the First, by the grace of God Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, departed this life. January 10, 1880 Norton I was buried today at Masonic Cemetery. The funeral cortege was two miles long. 10,000 people turned out for the funeral. June 30, 1934 Emperor Norton I reburied in Woodlawn Cemetery by citizens of San Francisco.
January 7, 1980 The city marked the 100th anniversary of the death of its
only monarch, Emperor Norton, with lunch-
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