Rodrigo de Jerez is one of the Spanish crewmen who sailed to the Americas on the Santa Maria as part of Cristopher Columbus' first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492. He is credited with being the first European smoker. He returned to Europe in the Niña. He was from the city of Ayamonte.

In September 1492 the crew first encounters tobacco, at San Salvador, most likely Guanahani island in the Bahamas. The natives present them with apparently valuable dry leaves that spread a peculiar fragrance. The leaves are discarded.

In November 1492 De Jerez and Luis de Torres first observe smoking. They were searching for the Emperor of China in Cuba. Apparenty the natives made rolls of palm and mais leaves in the manner of a musket formed of paper, with tobacco on the inside. One would light one side and drink the smoke out of the other.

Jerez picked up this habit, and introduced the habit to Ayamonte. The smoke surrounding him frightened his neighbours: the Spanish Inquisition imprisoned him for his sinful and infernal habits. When he was released seven years later smoking had caught on.

Sources

• History of tobacco at tobacco.org
• List of Officers and Sailors in the First Voyage of Columbus at history-world.org

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