About tobacco

Prehistoric Conjectures: Small amounts of nicotine may have been present in certain Old World plants, including Belladonna and Nicotiana Africana, and nicotine byproducts have been found in human remains and smoking paraphenalia in the Africa and the Near East, there is no proof of habitual tobacco use in the Ancient world, on any continent except the New World.

· 6000 BC: Historians believe the tobacco plant, as we know it today, begins growing in the New World.
· 1st Century BC: Historians believe Native American have begun using tobacco, including smoking, chewing and perhaps in hallucinogenic enemas.
· 1st Century AD: Tobacco was ubiquitous in the Americas. 
· 600-1000 AD: In Guatemala, first pictorial representations of smoking tobacco: A pottery vessel found here dates from before the 11th century. On a Maya piece of pottery, a Mayan is depicted smoking a roll of tobacco leaves bound together with a string. 

Post Columbian Tobacco History in the Western Culture

· On October 12, 1492, Columbus is introduced to tobacco by the locals in the New World. He is given dried leaves and throws them away.
· On October 15, 1492, In his journal, Columbus mentions tobacco for the first time. He states that it is held in high value amongst the natives.
· November 1492, Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres first observe the native smoking ritual and try it themselves. Jerez becomes the first smoker of western decent.
· In 1497, the smoking by New World natives of tobacco is first reported in Europe.
· In 1498, Columbus sails to Tobago and names it after the native pipe used to smoke tobacco.
· In 1531, Europeans begin growing tobacco on Santo Domingo.
· In 1535, Jacques Cartier observes natives on the Isle of Montreal smoking tobacco.
· In 1548, the Portuguese begin to grow tobacco for export in Brazil.
· In 1556, tobacco is first brought to France.
· In 1558, tobacco is first brought to Spain and Portugal.
In 1565, tobacco is first brought into England by Sir John Hawkins.
· In 1573, Sir Francis Drake returns to England from the Americas with 'Nicotina tobacum'.
· In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh has his first tobacco experience thanks to Sir Francis Drake.
· In 1595, the first english language book is published about tobacco. 

1600's

· In 1600, Sir Walter Raleigh gets Queen Elizabeth to try smoking tobacco.
· In 1604, King James I raises import tax on tobacco 4,000%, from 2 pence/lb to 6 shillings 10 pence/lb. He also writes a piece blasting tobacco use.
· In 1610, Sir Francis Bacon writes that tobacco use is on the upswing and that it is a habit hard to stop practicing.
· In 1612, John Rolfe grew the first Virginia tobacco crop that was deemed successful.
· In 1614, first Virginia tobacco is sold in England.
· In 1614, in Spain, Seville is decreed the center of cigar making for spanish grown, New World tobacco. The poor, using left over tobacco from cigars, make the first cigarettes to be smoked in europe.
· December 4, 1619, In Virginia, the first american Thanksgiving, thrown to celebrate a good tobacco crop.
· In 1624, New York City is founded. Specifically the present day Greenwich Village area was for the native indian a place to grow tobacco.
· In 1636, In Spain, the oldest tobacco company is founded - Tabacalera. 
· In 1674, smoking tobacco in Russia can result in the death penalty.
· In 1676, in Russia, ban on smoking lifted.

1700's

· Napolean reportedly used 7 pounds of snuff per month.
· Lung cancer is first described. A rare disease at that time. Or perhaps, rarely diagnosed?
· In 1730, first New World tobacco factories spring up in Virginia to make snuff.
· In 1759, George Washington harvests his first tobacco crop. It is deemed substandard and Washington is deeply in debt by 1761.
· In 1760, Lorrilard, the oldest american tobacco company establishes factory in New York city. 
· In 1770, the first tobacco shop is established in Lancaster, PA.
· In 1776, the Revolutionary War, also known as the Tobacco War commences. Americans use tobacco to build credits with which to finance the war.
· In 1794, in America, the first excise tax is imposed. It equals 60% of the price of the tobacoo(snuff only).

1800's

· French prostitutes are the first women seen smoking in public in France.
· In 1805-1807, Nicotine, the chemical compound is first isolated.
· In 1820, first american women observed smoking in public in Santa Fe.
· In 1826, England is importing only 26 lbs of cigars per year. By 1830, England is importing 250,000 lbs per year.
· In 1828, first complete pharmacological treatise completed on nicotine. It was concluded to be dangerous.
· In 1843, the correct molecular formula for nicotine established.
· In 1847, Philip Morris is open for business in England. They sell hand rolled Turkish cigarettes.
· In 1852, matches are introduced making smoking a lot easier.
· In 1854, Philip Morris begins making its own cigarettes in London, on Bond Street.
· In 1860, manufactured cigarettes make their debut. 
· In 1862, first federal tax on cigarettes. Thought to be imposed to help pay for civil war.
· In 1864, first federal excise tax on cigarettes. 
· In 1873, Philip Morris dies.
· In 1875, $75,000 offered for first practical cigarette rolling machine.
· In the 1880's, Benson and Hedges opens tobacco shop in London.
· In 1881, Philip Morris sells stock to the public.
· In 1890, USA per capita consumption of chewing tobacco peaked at 3 lbs.
· In 1892, book matches are invented but fail to catch on(but not on fire).
· In 1893, nicotine is first synthesized.
· In 1893, the state of Washington bans the use and sale of cigarettes. Later overturned on restraint of free trade argument.
· In 1894, Brown and Williamson formed in Winston-Salem, NC.
· In 1895, first motion picture advertisement made. It was a cigarettes ad.
· In 1898, a total ban on cigarettes is upheld in the Tennessee supreme court.
· In 1899, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Inc. is formed.

1900's

· By 1900, Iowa, Washington, Tennessee and North Dakota have banned the sale of cigarettes.
· In 1900, 4.4 billion cigarettes are sold.
· In 1901, by royal decree, Philip Morris & Co. is appointed as royal tobacconist for King Edward VII.
· In 1901, 6 billion cigars are smoked. 80% of american men smoke at least one cigar per day.
· In 1904, cigarette coupons first used to promote sales.
· In 1906, Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company is established.
· In 1908, Canada bans the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 16 years. The ban is not enforced.
· In 1909, 15 states have prohibited the sale of cigarettes.
· In 1911, tobacco cultivation is allowed in England for the first time in over 250 years.
· In 1912, Diamond Company makes first practical book matches.
· In 1912, first scientific link drawn between smoking and cancer.
· In 1913, RJ Reynolds debuts Camel cigarettes.
· In 1914, smoking is prohibited in the chambers of the US Senate.
· In 1914, 24,000 cigar factories in the USA. This marks the high point.
· In 1919, rolling tobacco sales surpassed by manufactured cigarettes for the first time.
· In 1920, per capita consumption of cigarettes is 419. Of cigars, 80.
· In 1921, Iowa becomes the first state to add its own tax.
· In 1922, RJR becomes the #1 tobacco company.
· In 1923, Camel has 45% of the US market.
· In 1927, Kansas become first state to drop its ban on cigarettes.
· In 1929, Philip Morris buys its first manufacturing plant -- in Virginia.
· In 1930, German scientists find statistical correlation between smoking and cancer.
· In 1932, Blaisdell invents Zippo lighter.
· In 1933, first government price supports for tobacco farmers.
· In 1933, Kool cigarettes first come to market.
· In 1933, Cigarettes first appear on shelves in 'carton' form.
· In 1939, Fortune magazine says 53% of adult males smoke in the USA.
· In 1940, it is reported that cigarette consumption has almost doubled in ten years.
· In 1945, in post-war Germany, cigarettes become the unofficial currency, valued at 50 cents each.
· In 1949, it's reported that one in three women smoke.
· In 1951, Winston cigarettes introduced to market.
· In 1952, Kent cigarettes, with its asbestos filter, debuts.
· In 1953, the American Medical Association bans cigarette advertisement in its publications.
· In 1954, cigarette companies take out ads refuting that cigarettes can cause lung cancer.
· In 1954, RJR is sued by spouse for causing husband's cancer and subsequent death. Court rules RJR not responsible.
· In 1954, the Marlboro cowboy created for advertising. Marlboro has about 1% of the market.
· In 1954, first product liability case brought against a tobacco company. Philip Morris prevailed but not until 1962.
· In 1956, Lorillard discontinues the Micronite filter in Kent cigarettes(the one with asbestos). 
· In 1956, RJR debuts Salem cigarettes.
· In 1957, the relationship between smoking pregnant mothers and under-weight infants is asserted in medical journal.
· In 1960, Pall Mall becomes the top selling brand. It will remain so until 1966.
· In 1960, first litigation lost by a tobacco company in another cancer case. In retrial, tobacco company prevails.
· In 1963, the 'Marlboro Man' becomes the only character to sell Marlboros in Philip Morris' ad campaigns.
· In 1964, first Surgeon General's report to link cigarette smoking to lung cancer.
· In 1964, Philip Morris comes out with 'Marlboro Country' ads. Sales start growing at 10% per year.
· In 1965, United Kindom bans cigarette advertisments on television.
· In 1966, health warning labels on cigarette packages begin.
· In 1968, Virginia Slims debut. Ads clearly target women. 
· In 1968, Philip Morris revenues top the $1 billion mark.
· In 1969, Consumer advocate, Ralph Nader, asks for a ban on smoking on airlines. Pan Am creates first no smoking section.
· In 1970, top selling brand is Winston.
· In 1970, the first 'Great American Smokeout' takes place.
· In 1970, TWA becomes the first airline to have no smoking sections on all of its flights.
· In 1970, president signs bill banning advertising of cigarettes on TV and radio.
· In 1971, ban on TV advertising goes into affect. Advertisers lose $220 million per year.
· In 1972, Philip Morris revenues go past $2 billion mark.
· In 1972, Marlboro becomes the best selling brand.
· In 1972, Marlboro Lights hit the market.
· In 1973, Arizona passes first laws prohibiting smoking in public places.
· In 1973, US government mandate nonsmoking area on all airlines.
· In 1975, US military halts the distribution of free cigarettes in K-rations and C-rations.
· In 1975, Marlboros overtake Winston as the best selling brand in the USA.
· In 1976, Philip Morris takes in over $4 billion in sales.
· In 1979, Philip Morris sales top $8 billion.
· In 1980, Philip Morris sales over $10 billion.
· In 1981, cigarette consumption peaks.
· In 1981, insurance companies begin selling life insurance to nonsmokers at a reduced rate.
· In 1983, in San Francisco, law banning smoking in private workplaces is passed.
In 1985, Philip Morris buys General Foods. Now owns 7-up and Miller Brewing Company.
· In 1986, Cuba's leader, Fidel Castro stops smoking cigars for health related reasons.
· In 1987, smoking banned on domestic flights that are under two hours in length.
· In 1987, Joe Camel is introduced.
· In 1988, Philip Morris revenues top $31 billion.
· In 1989, Marlboro brand has captured 24% of the market.
· In 1989, a bill banning smoking on all domestic airlines is passed.
· In 1991, Marlboro Mediums are introduced to the market.
· In 1992, first nicotine patch debuts.
· In 1992, Marlboro brand is ranked #1 brand in the world by authoritative magazine.
· In 1993, Bill Clinton bans smoking in the White House.
· In 1994, McDonald's restaurants ban smoking in all of it's restaurants.
· In 1994, Mississippi is first state to sue the tobacco industry for health costs related to smoking.
· In 1995, the FDA declares nicotine a drug.
· In 1995, the 'Marlboro Man', dies of lung cancer at the age of 73.
· In 1997, Philip Morris USA market share tops 50%.
· In 1997, Philip Morris revenues top $72 billion.
· In 1997, the Federal Trade Commission accuses Joe Camels ads of targeting youths.
· In 1997, Joe Camel ads stop.
· In 1998, various states settle with tobacco companies over the costs of health related diseases caused by cigarettes.
· In 1999, approximately $10 million americans smoke cigars.
· In 2000, European Union files suit in New York against RJR, Philip Morris on RICO/smuggling claims.