Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe is a 1924 booklet written by Berthold Laufer and published by the Field Museum of Natural History. It’s part of a series of booklets on the origins and spread of tobacco across the world that the Field Museum published mostly in 1924, but completed in 1930.

Title page of Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe

Early Europeans to visit the Americas became, “infatuated with this intoxication of petun (tobacco), so much so that they cannot dispense with it, no more than with eating and drinking” according to Marc Lescarbot.1 This included various forms of smoking tobacco, including cigars.

Tobacco was introduced into England as a botanical specimen prior to the English picking up the habit of smoking. Nicotiana rustica is believed to have been brought from Florida by Sir John Hawkins in 1565. Many other theories of introduction are explored in the pamphlet, and subsequently dismissed. In Laufer’s opinion, Nicotiana tabacum was brought to England in 1573 by Sir Francis Drake. He reviews the evidence of others having brought tobacco to England, and concludes, “It is solely popular imagination…which glorified Ralph Lane, Richard Grenville, or Walter Raleigh as the first smokers.”2 He does credit Raleigh with popularizing smoking: “It is to Raleigh’s merit that he made smoking fashionable and a gentlemanly art; his name became identified with the new national habit so thoroughly that later generations looked upon him as a kind of patron-saint of the smokers.”3

Andre Thevet and Jean Nicot each has a claim for having introduced tobacco into France. Thevet traveled to the Americas from 1555-1556, and claims to have brought back tobacco seeds and cultivated them. Jean Nicot was the French ambassador to Portugal, who cultivated tobacco in 1559 and send it to Catherine de Medici – this allowed it to spread throughout France. Laufer’s examination of the sources led him to believe that Thevet introduced Nicotiana tabacum and Nicot introduced Nicotiana rustica.4

Tobacco was grown in Portugal in 1558 by Damian de Goes. Some stories say that he gave seeds to Nicot.5

Spain’s first use of the tobacco plant was in gardens. It was then used in medicine. And then it was used for its consumptive purposes. The specific dates of introduction are not known. Laufer says the dates don’t matter because when it comes to tobacco, “Spain gave Europe only two things – the tobacco gospel of Monardes and the cigar.”6

Tobacco came to Italy from Portugal in 1561 with Prospero Santa Croce – this was Nicotiana rustica, which enjoyed the name herba Santa Croce after its introducer. Sometime before 1574, Nicolo Tornabouni introduced Nicotiana tabacum into the country from France.

Some other countries in Europe are thought to have had the following introductions:

  • Holland: English students at the University of Leiden brought tobacco around 15907
  • Norway: brought from Denmark in 16167
  • Sweden: planted in 1724 by Jonas Alstromer7
  • Turkey: 1605 during the reign of Sultan Akhmed I8

Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe can be read for free at the Biodiversity Heritage Library.

  1. Berthold Laufer, Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe, 1924, pg. 1 [↩]
  2. Berthold Laufer, Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe, 1924, pg. 11 [↩]
  3. Berthold Laufer, Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe, 1924, pg. 12 [↩]
  4. Berthold Laufer, Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe, 1924, pgs. 51 & 52 [↩]
  5. Berthold Laufer, Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe, 1924, pg. 49 [↩]
  6. Berthold Laufer, Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe, 1924, pg. 55 [↩]
  7. Berthold Laufer, Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe, 1924, pg. 58 [↩] [↩] [↩]
  8. Berthold Laufer, Introduction of Tobacco Into Europe, 1924, pg. 61 [↩]