Emperor Norton
As with the last 3 years, I went to PorcFest this year and a vendor was selling beer from Manchester Brewery. It was a peppermint stout, lovely flavor, and it was titled "Emperor Norton's Peppermint Stout". The label:
Just the label alone made me wonder who the hell is Emperor Norton? lol. Apparently, he was crazy, a bad-ass and respected. From wiki:
Joshua Abraham Norton (c. 1819 January 8, 1880), the self-proclaimed Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, was a celebrated citizen of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 proclaimed himself; Emperor of these United States and subsequently; Protector of Mexico.
Further:
When Norton returned to San Francisco from his self-imposed exile, he had become completely disgruntled with what he considered the vicissitudes and inadequacies of the legal and political structures of the United States. On September 17, 1859, he took matters into his own hands and distributed letters to the various newspapers in the city, proclaiming himself "Emperor of these United States":
“ At the peremptory request and desire 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 9 years and 10 months past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U. S.; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby order and direct the representatives of the different States of the Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of Feb. next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and abroad, in our stability and integrity.
NORTON I, Emperor of the United States.[12][16]”
The announcement was first reprinted for humorous effect by the editor of the San Francisco Bulletin.[17] Norton would later add "Protector of Mexico" to this title. Thus commenced his unprecedented and whimsical twenty-one-year "reign" over America.
The whole wiki-page on him is fascinating, I had to share. :o)
Just the label alone made me wonder who the hell is Emperor Norton? lol. Apparently, he was crazy, a bad-ass and respected. From wiki:
Joshua Abraham Norton (c. 1819 January 8, 1880), the self-proclaimed Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, was a celebrated citizen of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 proclaimed himself; Emperor of these United States and subsequently; Protector of Mexico.
Further:
When Norton returned to San Francisco from his self-imposed exile, he had become completely disgruntled with what he considered the vicissitudes and inadequacies of the legal and political structures of the United States. On September 17, 1859, he took matters into his own hands and distributed letters to the various newspapers in the city, proclaiming himself "Emperor of these United States":
“ At the peremptory request and desire 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 9 years and 10 months past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U. S.; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby order and direct the representatives of the different States of the Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of Feb. next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and abroad, in our stability and integrity.
NORTON I, Emperor of the United States.[12][16]”
The announcement was first reprinted for humorous effect by the editor of the San Francisco Bulletin.[17] Norton would later add "Protector of Mexico" to this title. Thus commenced his unprecedented and whimsical twenty-one-year "reign" over America.
The whole wiki-page on him is fascinating, I had to share. :o)