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Jan 18, 1492
1492 Columbus “discovers” tobacco in the New World, recording in his journal that he has been presented with “certain dried leaves which gave off a distinct fragrance,” and brings it to Europe.
Columbus “discovers” tobacco in the New World,
recording in his journal that he has been presented
with “certain dried leaves which gave off a distinct
fragrance,” and brings it to Europe. -
Jan 18, 1531
1531 European settlers begin tobacco cultivation.
European settlers begin tobacco cultivation. -
Jan 18, 1560
1560s Jean Nicot de Villemain (for whom the tobacco plant and the chemical nicotine are eventually named) sends tobacco to France with reports of its medicinal nature.
Jean Nicot de Villemain (for whom the
tobacco plant and the chemical nicotine are
eventually named) sends tobacco to France
with reports of its medicinal nature. -
1585 Sir Francis Drake introduces smoking to Sir Walter Raleigh, who popularizes its use.
1585 Sir Francis Drake introduces
smoking to Sir Walter Raleigh,
who popularizes its use. -
1612 John Rolfe raises the first commercial crop of “tall tobacco” in Virginia
1612 John Rolfe raises the first
commercial crop of “tall
tobacco” in Virginia -
1634 China Qing Dynasty decreed a smoking ban during which a violator was executed. This was not to protect health, but to address the inequality of trade with Korea.
1634 China Qing Dynasty decreed a smoking ban during which a violator was executed. This was not to protect health, but to address the inequality of trade with Korea. -
1692 Korea Bans on smoking in Choson introduced to reduce fire risk.
1692 Korea Bans on smoking in Choson introduced to reduce fire risk. -
1700 Africa/Americas African slaves forced to work in tobacco fields.
1700 Africa/Americas African slaves forced to work in tobacco fields. -
1710 Russia Peter the Great encouraged his courtiers to smoke tobacco and drink coffee, which was seen as fashionable and pro-European.
1710 Russia Peter the Great encouraged his courtiers to smoke tobacco and drink coffee, which was seen as fashionable and pro-European. -
1753 Sweden Botanist Carolus Linnaeus named the plant genus nicotiana and describes two species, nicotiana rustica and nicotiana tabacum.
1753 Sweden Botanist Carolus Linnaeus named the plant genus nicotiana and describes two species, nicotiana rustica and nicotiana tabacum. -
1847 England Philip Morris Esq, a tobacconist and importer of fine cigars, opened a shop in London selling hand-rolled Turkish cigarettes
1847 England Philip Morris Esq, a tobacconist and importer of fine cigars, opened a shop in London selling hand-rolled Turkish cigarettes -
1881 USA First practical cigarette making machine patented by James Bonsack. It could produce 120,000 cigarettes a day, each machine doing the work of 48 people. Production costs plummeted, and—with the invention of the safety match a few decades later—ci
1881 USA First practical cigarette making machine patented by James Bonsack. It could produce 120,000 cigarettes a day, each machine doing the work of 48 people. Production costs plummeted, and—with the invention of the safety match a few decades later—cigarette-smoking began its explosive growth. -
1924 Reader’s Digest published “Does Tobacco Injure the Human Body,” the beginning of a Reader’s Digest campaign to make people think before starting to smoke.
1924 Reader’s Digest published “Does Tobacco Injure the Human Body,” the beginning of a Reader’s Digest campaign to make people think before starting to smoke. -
1929 USA Edward Bernays mounted a “freedom march” of smoking debutantes/fashion models who walk down Fifth Avenue in New York during the Easter parade dressed as Statues of Liberty and holding aloft their Lucky Strike cigarettes as “torches of freedom.”
1929 USA Edward Bernays mounted a “freedom march” of smoking debutantes/fashion models who walk down Fifth Avenue in New York during the Easter parade dressed as Statues of Liberty and holding aloft their Lucky Strike cigarettes as “torches of freedom.” -
1947 Canada Dr. Norman Delarue compared 50 patients with lung cancer with 50 patients hospitalized with other diseases. He discovered that over 90 percent of the first group—but only half of the second—were smokers, and confidently predicted that by 1950
1947 Canada Dr. Norman Delarue compared 50 patients with lung cancer with 50 patients hospitalized with other diseases. He discovered that over 90 percent of the first group—but only half of the second—were smokers, and confidently predicted that by 1950 no one would be smoking.