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[[File:Admiral Bellingshausen.jpg|thumb|300px|left]]
[[File:Emperor Joshua A. Norton I.jpg|250px|left]]
'''[[Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen]]''', a [[Foreign relations of Westarctica|Russian]] officer of Baltic German descent in the Imperial Russian Navy, cartographer and explorer, ultimately rose to the rank of Admiral. He participated in the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe and subsequently became a leader of another circumnavigation expedition which discovered the continent of [[Antarctica]].
'''[[Emperor Norton]]''' was a resident of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 declared himself "Emperor of these United States" in September 1859, a role he played for the rest of his life.  


As a prominent cartographer, Bellingshausen was appointed to command the Russian circumnavigation of the globe in 1819-1821, intended to explore the [[Southern Ocean]] and to find land in the proximity of the [[South Pole]]. Mikhail Lazarev prepared the expedition and was made Bellingshausen's second-in-command and the captain of the sloop ''Mirny'', while Bellingshausen himself commanded the sloop ''Vostok''.
Norton had no formal political power, but was treated deferentially in San Francisco and elsewhere in California, and currency issued in his name was honored in some of the establishments he frequented. Some considered Norton to be insane or eccentric, but residents of San Francisco and the city's larger Northern California orbit enjoyed his imperial presence and took note of his frequent newspaper proclamations. Norton received free ferry and train passage and a variety of favors, such as help with rent and free meals, from well-placed friends and sympathizers. Some of the city's merchants capitalized on his notoriety by selling souvenirs bearing his image.  


During this expedition Bellingshausen and Lazarev became the first explorers to see the land of [[Antarctica]] on 27 January 1820. They circumnavigated the continent twice and never lost each other from view. Thus they disproved Captain Cook's assertion that it was impossible to find land in the southern ice-fields. The expedition discovered and named [[Peter I Island]], the [[Antarctic Peninsula]] and made other discoveries in the tropical waters of the Pacific.
He is often considered the founding father of [[micronation|micronationalism]].


'''([[Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen|Full Article...]])'''
'''([[Emperor Norton|Full Article...]])'''

Latest revision as of 05:06, 11 July 2026

Emperor Joshua A. Norton I.jpg

Emperor Norton was a resident of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 declared himself "Emperor of these United States" in September 1859, a role he played for the rest of his life.

Norton had no formal political power, but was treated deferentially in San Francisco and elsewhere in California, and currency issued in his name was honored in some of the establishments he frequented. Some considered Norton to be insane or eccentric, but residents of San Francisco and the city's larger Northern California orbit enjoyed his imperial presence and took note of his frequent newspaper proclamations. Norton received free ferry and train passage and a variety of favors, such as help with rent and free meals, from well-placed friends and sympathizers. Some of the city's merchants capitalized on his notoriety by selling souvenirs bearing his image.

He is often considered the founding father of micronationalism.

(Full Article...)

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