The War of 1812: The Roots of Cigar Smoking in America

For centuries, tobacco shaped American trade, culture, and politics—from Virginia’s plantations to early political halls. Yet, in the 18th century, while the Founding Fathers cultivated and traded tobacco, cigars were not yet widely smoked.

Instead, early Americans preferred pipes, snuff, and chewing tobacco, and it wasn’t until the early 19th century that cigars gained real popularity. The War of 1812 played a pivotal role in this shift—marking the true beginning of America’s long history with cigars.

The Founding Fathers and America’s Early Tobacco Culture

The Founding Fathers were no strangers to tobacco. In fact, many were tobacco plantation owners, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who grew tobacco as a major cash crop. Tobacco exports were crucial to the American economy and even helped finance the Revolutionary War.

However, there is little evidence that the Founding Fathers were passionate cigar smokers. During their time, tobacco use in America revolved around:

• Pipes – The most common way to smoke tobacco in the colonies.

• Snuff – A finely ground tobacco powder inhaled through the nose, especially favored by the wealthy.

• Chewing Tobacco – Widely used by both commoners and political elites.

Washington, Jefferson, and John Adams were known to use tobacco, primarily in the form of snuff and pipe smoking. Benjamin Franklin, during his time in France, would have been exposed to Europe’s growing cigar culture, but there’s no strong evidence that he adopted the habit.

Early Cigar Imports: Israel Putnam & the First Cuban Cigars in America

Though cigars were not yet widespread in early America, they were not entirely absent. One of the earliest known introductions of cigars to the American colonies is attributed to Israel Putnam, a soldier who, in 1762, returned from Cuba with a selection of Havana cigars and Cuban tobacco seed.

Putnam’s influence helped introduce cigars to New England, and by the late 18th century, small-scale cigar smoking had begun in American port cities. However, cigars remained a luxury product, primarily enjoyed by the wealthy, diplomats, and travelers who had been exposed to European and Caribbean smoking culture.

It wasn’t until the War of 1812 that cigar smoking shifted from a niche luxury to a widespread practice among Americans.

The War of 1812: How It Made America a Nation of Cigar Smokers

The War of 1812 marked a turning point in American cigar history. Though cigars had been imported before the war, their presence was still limited. The conflict introduced a much larger audience to cigar smoking and transformed it into a mainstream cultural habit.

American Soldiers Were Exposed to Caribbean Cigar Culture

During the war, U.S. forces fought in or near regions like Cuba and the West Indies, where cigar smoking was already well established. Many soldiers and officers adopted the habit, bringing it back to the U.S. after the war.

Expanded Trade with Spain & the Caribbean

Before 1812, American tobacco production was focused on pipes and chewing tobacco. But after the war, the U.S. saw increased imports of Cuban cigars, which quickly became a symbol of status and refinement.

The Birth of American Cigar Manufacturing

By the 1820s-1830s, cigar-making took off in America, particularly in New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Factories began producing cigars on a large scale, making them more affordable and accessible to a growing population.

A New Symbol of Power and Leadership

By the 1830s-1840s, cigars had become closely associated with political leaders, military generals, and businessmen.

• Andrew Jackson and later Ulysses S. Grant were famously depicted with cigars, reinforcing their symbolism of strength and leadership.

• Cigar lounges and gentlemen’s clubs became gathering places for America’s elite.

By the mid-19th century, America had fully embraced cigars as a staple of daily life.

Conclusion: The War That Lit America’s Cigar Culture

While the Founding Fathers helped shape early American tobacco culture, it was the War of 1812 that truly introduced cigars to a national audience. Soldiers brought back the habit from the Caribbean, Cuban cigar imports surged, and American cigar manufacturing flourished in the decades that followed.

By 1830, cigars were no longer just for diplomats and the wealthy—they were a national tradition.

And so, while cigars existed in America before 1812, it was this war that transformed them from an imported luxury into a lasting part of American identity.