In 1559, Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal, introduced tobacco to Europe by sending seeds back to France, promoting it as a medicinal herb. This introduction marked the beginning of tobacco's rapid spread across Europe, where it was initially used for its perceived health benefits. The subsequent popularity of tobacco led to significant cultural and economic changes, including the establishment of tobacco plantations in the Americas. Nicot's role in popularizing tobacco has had lasting implications, contributing to both the agricultural economy and public health debates that continue today.

The introduction of tobacco to Europe in 1559 quickly became a potent symbol in literature, representing both New World exoticism and moral vice. This duality is evident in satirical poems by James I, such as 'A Counterblaste to Tobacco,' and later in the social commentary of Restoration poetry, which critiqued the cultural implications of tobacco consumption.