I really like this guy. Mr Joshua Norton (1819-1880), a failed rice merchant from San Francisco, who decided one day that he was in fact the Emperor of the United States. And why not, I guess no one else was doing that particular job at the time.
His imperial duties consisted of wandering the streets of San Francisco wearing his fetching regalia, issuing his own currency, spreading rumours that he would marry Queen Victoria, eating for free at local restaurants and endorsing them with 'imperial seals of approval' instead of payment, and conducting a funeral for his dog 'Bummer' while dressed as the Pope (Norton that is, not the dog).
Lunatic though he was, the people of San Francisco were extremely fond of him and treated him with great deference. And how could you not be respectful to the one and only Emperor of the United States?
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