Originated among Native Americans who grew tobacco for medicinal and ceremonial purposes

1492

Columbus is believed to have first recorded the use of spit tobacco

Jean Nicot, for whom the key ingredient in tobacco (nicotine) is named, began experimenting with tobacco seeds for medicinal purposes (1566 - sent snuff to Queen Catherine de Medici to treat her migraines)

The "cure" was a dressing made of mashed tobacco leaves used to treat cuts, ringworm, asthma and migraine headaches

Later, it's use expanded to include toothaches, ulcers and skin diseases

First successful commercial crop was cultivated in Virginia in 1612 by Englishman John Rolfe - within 7 years, it was the colony's largest export

1730

First American tobacco factories begun in Virginia - small snuff mills

1761

Physician John Hill (England) publishes "Cautions against the Immoderate Use of Snuff" - perhaps the first clinical study of tobacco effects; warns snuff users they are vulnerable to cancers of the nose

1791

Physician John Hill reports cases of nasal cancers caused by snuff use

Napoleon said to have used 7 lb. of snuff per month

Use of snuff continued to spread throughout Europe and was the most popular form of tobacco used until the mid 1800's (replaced by cigarettes)

1800

Tobacco begins being commercially grown in Southern Ontario

1804

Lewis & Clark explore Northwest using gifts of tobacco as 'life insurance'

By the mid-1800's chewing tobacco had become the most popular form of tobacco use in the United States (replaced by cigarettes by early 1900's)

1890

Peak of chewing tobacco consumption in U.S., three pounds per capita

1970's

Spit tobacco became popular again in the 1970's when the tobacco industry began using sports stars to spread its message that it was a safe alternative to cigarettes

today

Aggressive marketing campaign introduced new brands with strong flavours and less nicotine which targeted youth in their efforts to build a new market for snuff and chewing tobacco