Emperor Norton I: The Man Who Became Emperor of the United States | The True Story of Joshua Norton

Who was Emperor Norton, and how did an ordinary businessman convince an entire city to recognize him as the Emperor of the United States?

In this episode of What You Didn't Hear, we explore the astonishing true story of Joshua Abraham Norton, the bankrupt San Francisco merchant who declared himself Emperor Norton I in 1859—and somehow became one of the most beloved figures in American history.

You'll discover how Norton went from successful entrepreneur during the California Gold Rush to financial ruin, before reinventing himself as a self-proclaimed monarch whose decrees were published in newspapers, whose personal currency was a ...