Potatoes and Tobacco from America

Not until after the turn of the new century, in 1605, was a further attempt of any measure made to begin a colony in the New World. That year Captain George Weymouth landed on the coast of present-day Maine. He, like those before him, hoped to find a suitable location for a colony. All he discovered were a few natives. Weymouth was, however, not satisfied to return to England with nothing material to show for his efforts. To remedy this situation he captured five natives and sailed away with them.

To this point in America's exploration and settlement by the English little had been accomplished other than some watery commutes, costly in coin and British citizens. But still, like in days and centuries to come, man had a naturally driven curiosity to know what lay beyond the next hill, or in this case the next wave.

Other than five captured Native Americans who had been taught to speak English only two other import items, brought from America, could be boasted of.

One item that in time would prove to be the backbone of American survival, and cause the broken backbone of Ireland, was the potato. Sir Ralph Lane, the governor of Raleigh's first colony, introduced the potato to his Irish estate.

The other item brought to England from America would, in a short time to come, begin one of the biggest economies in early America and affect commercial Europe greatly. The item in question was a simple little leaf, brown when cured, called tobacco. It was none other than Sir Walter Raleigh, himself, who popularized the smoking of tobacco.

Source:

Athearn, Robert G. The New World: American Heritage New Illustrated History of the United States, Volume 1. Dell Publishing Co., Inc., New York, 1963.

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