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Tobacco Time Line

1550-1575
Europe. Tobacco is introduced into Western Europe. In 1556 Andre Thevet brings tobacco seeds from Brazil to France. Tobacco is dubbed nicotiana in honor of Jean Nicot, who describes its medicinal properties (1559) and sends it as a medicine to the French court. In 1565 tobacco seeds are introduced into England, but smoking does not spread until Sir Walter Raleigh makes it fashionable in the court in the mid-1570s.

1575-1600
General. Although smoking for pleasure is still controversial, tobacco as a medicine is almost universally approved. Nicolas Monardes devotes the second part of his book on New World plants to a lengthy section on tobacco, recommending it as an infallible cure for 36 different ailments. Summing up current beliefs regarding this much praised herba panacea or holy herb, Monardes' work (1571, 1574) becomes the fundamental source for all subsequent protobacco literature.

China. Limited smoking is apparent in S. China, probably introduced by Portuguese sailors and merchants.

England. Introduced into the court by Sir Walter Raleigh, smoking becomes the "duty" of every man of fashion; tobacco is worth its weight in silver. Numerous publications praise its medicinal virtues, starting with John Frampton's translation of Monardes, titled Joyful Newes Oute of the Newe Founde Worlde (1577).

Italy. Tobacco is cultivated as a medicinal herb in Tuscany and Rome, but there is no evidence that it is widely smoked.

Japan. Limited smoking is apparent, probably introduced by Portuguese sailors and merchants.

Turkey. Sultan Murad II cultivates tobacco as a novelty and a medicine; smoking is introduced by the English.

1600-1625
America. New World colonists begin tobacco cultivation. In 1613 John Rolfe sends the first shipment of Virginia tobacco to England. Tobacco soon becomes a major New World crop.

China. Smoking is introduced into N. China during wars with Japan; use also is spread by invading Manchu armies. Tobacco is heralded as a medicine for colds, malaria, and cholera.

England. Smoking spreads rapidly, becoming an expensive fad among the court and nobility. Many also take up smoking as a preventative against the plague (1614). Works such as Barclay's Nephentes, or the Virtues of Tobacco (1614) continue to praise its medicinal properties, but concern is increasing that tobacco is undermining the moral and economic well being of the country. Anti-tobacco writings begin to appear, attacking the exorbitant medicinal claims and excessive recreational use by fashionable dandies. Most notable of these attacks is King James I's Counterblaste to Tobacco (1603). James unsuccessfully attempts to control use through prohibitive taxation (1604); as smuggling increases he lowers the tariff and sells the right to collect it for government revenues (1608, 1618). A royal tobacco monopoly is then established (1624), aiming to generate revenues by keeping the tobacco duty as high as possible without causing smuggling.

France/Italy. Use spreads within the Italian and French courts and clergy, and from there throughout the populace. The habit is also spread by returning sailors from the New World.

Japan. Cultivation begins and smoking spreads among all classes, prompting several severe imperial prohibitions (1603+). Prohibitions are governed by fears over outbreaks of fires, foreign influences, and interference in the cultivation of more valuable food crops such as rice. Despite increasing penalties, including property confiscations, death threats, fines and imprisonment, all bans fail. The prohibitions gradually fall into disuse from lack of enforcement.

Russia. Smoking is introduced by Western European and Turkish sailors and by travelers from Central Europe.

Turkey. Smoking is introduced from the West; use spreads rapidly. Immediately a controversy develops over whether smoking is forbidden by the Koran. Sultan Ahmed I prohibits it; many poets praise it, along with coffee, opium, and wine, as one of the four elements of the world of pleasure.

1625-1650
China. The Ming emperor decrees any person trafficking in tobacco will be decapitated (1638), the decree proves ineffectual as smoking spreads within the court. A second prohibition is issued in 1641.

England. Increasingly, medicinal use declines and smoking becomes primarily a pleasurable pastime. The government comes to rely on tobacco duties as a main source of revenue. By the 1630's, smoking has overcome most opposition; use spreads as tobacco prices decline markedly.

France. Despite high prices, smoking spreads among the lower classes; snuffing is more prevalent among the nobility, who consider it a more dignified and aristocratic mode of use. Cardinal Richelieu imposes high duties on tobacco to discourage use and to create general revenues (1629), feeling that taxation would be more profitable than direct prohibition. In 1635, sales are restricted to prescriptions. By the reign of Louis XIV (16431715), use is widespread and highly praised, despite the King's personal disapproval.

Italy. The first import monopolies are established.

Japan. Smoking takes its place in polite society.

Papacy. Two papal bulls ban tobacco use by the clergy under penalty of excommunication (1642,1650).

Prussia. The 30 Years War spreads smoking throughout Central and Eastern Europe. In Luneberg, Germany, the penalty for smoking is death.

Russia. Tsar Michael Romanov and the clergy attack smoking as a sin, an abomination, and a cause of fires. Literature is extremely hostile; it is called "the devil's plant." Although smoking is forbidden under penalty of exile and torture (1630), financial pressures cause the ban to be momentarily rescinded (1643) .

Turkey. Sultan Murad IV establishes the death penalty for smoking in the Ottoman Empire; use still spreads, although many turn to less detectable snuff. By mid-century, the ban is repealed and cultivation spreads.

1650-1675
China. The Manchu, having conquered China, revoke all existing smoking bans (1644). China becomes the great smoking nation of Asia. Snuff is introduced by the Jesuits.

France. Louis XIV establishes a monopoly in imitation of the Italians (1674).

Italy. Venice establishes the first tobacco appalto or state monopoly, selling the exclusive right to import, manufacture, or trade in tobacco to a private party (1659).

Japan. All prohibitions are repealed.

Papacy. Pope Alexander VII farms out spirits and tobacco monopolies (1655, 1660).

Russia. Another smoking ban is established, with a death penalty (1674) . Use continues to increase; restraints are lifted (c. 1676), and smoking spreads from the court and foreign circles to the general population.

1675-1700
France. The French tobacco monopoly proves unpopular and unworkable, generating smuggling, bribery, and corruption.

Russia. Clerical opposition mounts to smoking and other Western European influences, but gradually legal restraints are lifted. Finally, Tsar Peter the Great (1684-1725) adopts smoking, lifts all bans, and establishes a trade monopoly with the English (1698), much to the disapproval of the church.

1700-1725
General. Opposition in Western Europe declines as all classes now smoke. Spreading from France, snuff-taking becomes fashionable among the nobility and clergy.

China. Tobacco cultivation and snuffing among the aristocracy is firmly established.

England. Snuff is introduced by courtiers returning from France.

France. Snuffing supplants smoking among the upper classes.

Papacy. The papal bulls against clerical tobacco use are repealed (1725).

1750-1775
Prussia. King Frederick, a francophile, spreads the snuff fashion and establishes a tobacco monopoly.

1775-1800
France. The French-American tobacco trade is developed and helps finance the American Revolution. The French Revolution repeals the hated tobacco monopoly but it is reinstated by Napoleon, who desires the revenues it generates.

1825-1850
Italy. A "tobacco war" is waged in 1848 modeled on the Boston Tea Party in protest against Austrian overlordship and the Austrian control of the tobacco monopoly.

Prussia. Berliners protest tobacco smoking restrictions; smoking bans are lifted during several cholera epidemics because of the belief that smoking is preventative. Finally, as an outgrowth of the 1848 revolution, all bans are removed.

United States. An antitobacco crusade is launched in conjunction with early temperance agitation.

1850-1875
United States. Cigarettes are brought home by American tourists from Europe; use spreads during the Civil War and the first federal excise tax is imposed. Following the war, the tobacco industry expands rapidly.

1875-1900
United States. The cigarette industry undertakes a major advertising campaign and forms a cartel. Sales increase rapidly, prompting growing opposition, led by the WCTU.

1900-1925
United States. Fourteen states ban cigarettes, others pass strict use regulations. Taxes increase and the tobacco cartel is broken up by the government. Use momentarily declines, but then the first modern or mild cigarette (Camels) is introduced and new advertising campaigns begin. Public acceptance grows, particularly among women. By 1927, tobacco prohibitions have been rescinded in a11 states, replaced by taxation.

1925-1950
United States. Both taxation and use continue to increase; early health warnings appear.

1950-1975
United States. The Surgeon General's Report (1964) causes a momentary decline in use, but despite health warnings and advertising bans, use begins to increase again in the 1970's.