today the king of san francisco character was actually sort of emperor, failed businessman named joshua norton proclaimed himself emperor norton. and from that day on emperor the first of the united states and protector of mexico. he plays a tour guide in san francisco where he was not only tolerated but embraced. lives for free in restaurants. norton was born in england and went to south africa. but in the attempt to corner the rice market he lost everything and re invented shhimself as emperor. says he was born in 1819. but researchers have since uncovered records that place his birth more likely in 1818. >> a piece in the daily california from 1865, on february 4th, wish him happy 47th birthday. so that math gets you february 4, 1818. >> so this sunday will mark his 200 birthday setting off a month of tributes in the city he loves. >> bond from 1851 and original name on it. >> reporter: among the tributes is a exhibit in the library. california pie neaoneers. >> this is only portrait he sat for during his lifetime. >> reporter: while so much of san francisco has changed, his memory survived

king of san francisco's characters was actually a sort of emperor, a failed businessman named joshua norton859 proclaimed himself emperor norton. >> from that day on he is norton i, emperor of the united states and protector of mexico. >> i make my money by investing -- >> reporter: joseph plays emperor norton as a tour guide in san francisco where the emperor was not only tolerated, but embraced. >> he would eat for free in restaurants, he had the best seat in the theater. >> reporter: norton was born in r in south africa. in9 andtf[úeau> amassed a fortune i he lost everything a6xprn reinvented himself as an emperor. >> what represents the spirit of san francisco better than somebody who rose from the ashes. >> reporter: norton's grave in a cemetery says he was born in 1819, but researchers have since uncovered records that place his birth more likely in 1818. >> a piece in the daley california from 1865 on february 4th wished him a happy 47th birthday to that will get you to february 4th, 1818. >> reporter: to sunday will mark emperor norton's 200th birthday, setting off a month of tribut