Jean Nicot

Biography:

Jean Nicot was a French diplomat and scholar. Born in Nîmes in the south of France he was French ambassador in Lisbon Portugal from 1559 to 1561. Jean Nicot was 29 years old in 1559 when he was sent from France to Portugal to negotiate the marriage of six-year-old Princess Marguerite de Valois to five-year-old King Sebastian of Portugal. When Nicot returned he brought tobacco plants. He introduced snuff tobacco to the French royal court.