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Emperor Norton I

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Description

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I. Self-Proclaimed Emperor of These United States, and Protector of Mexico.

If you don't know who this guy is, you should check out this wiki page. He's seriously one of my new heroes. [link]

This was meant to be just a quick sketch but the project got out of hand a bit. It's made of painted watercolor paper pasted together.
Image size
492x605px 285.64 KB
Make
Canon
Model
Canon PowerShot A570 IS
Shutter Speed
25/10 second
Aperture
F/8.0
Focal Length
6 mm
ISO Speed
80
Date Taken
Jul 2, 2009, 1:54:46 AM
© 2009 - 2024 WonderDookie
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RD-DD1843's avatar
He was originally a wealthy merchant named Joshua Norton, who made his money during the Gold Rush in California in sea trade. A scheme he was talked into to corner the rice market backfired ruining him, and he began to behave eccentrically to his native San Franciscans.  But he usually was quite sharp.  Despite the grandiose titles he chose, Emperor Norton actually had some modern views.  He opposed slavery, and during the Civil War he had an imperial message posted throughout San Francisco that all financial and material aid to put down the rebellion of his south eastern territories would be handled in Washington, D.C. by his agent Mr. Abraham Lincoln.  For all his madness there was a strong public morality behind it.  By the time he died in 1880 he was one of San Francisco's leading citizens again (he had a large public funeral).  His "I.O.U." personally signed money notes were accepted as legal currency (from him only, of course) by the citizens of the city.