Jean Nicot

Jean Nicot (1530 – 1600) was a French diplomat and scholar who is best known for introducing tobacco to France and for whom the plant genus Nicotiana and the chemical substance nicotine are named.

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Jean Nicot was born in 1530 in Nîmes, France. Little is known about his early life and education, but he eventually entered the service of the French court.

Diplomatic Career[edit | edit source]

In 1559, Nicot was appointed as the French ambassador to Portugal by King Henry II of France. During his time in Portugal, Nicot became acquainted with the tobacco plant, which was being cultivated in the Portuguese colonies in the Americas.

Introduction of Tobacco to France[edit | edit source]

Nicot sent tobacco seeds and powdered leaves back to France in 1560. He believed that the plant had medicinal properties and could be used to treat various ailments. The plant quickly gained popularity in the French court and among the French aristocracy. The use of tobacco spread throughout Europe, and it became known as "Nicot's weed" or "herbe à la Reine" (the Queen's herb) in honor of Catherine de' Medici, the queen consort of King Henry II of France.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Jean Nicot's name has been immortalized in the scientific name of the tobacco plant, Nicotiana, and in the name of the chemical substance nicotine, which is the primary alkaloid found in tobacco. Nicot's introduction of tobacco to France had a significant impact on European culture and economy.