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Johann Dzierzon

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Jan Dzierżon
Jan Dzierżon

Jan Dzierżon (Polish) or Johann Dzierzon (German) (16 January 1811 – 26 October 1906) was an apiarist famous for his discovery of parthenogenesis among bees and for designing a movable-frame beehive. He was also a Roman Catholic priest.

Biography

Dzierzon was born to Polish parents,[1][2][3] he considered himself a Pole [4] [5] [6] [7][8]. He was born and died in Lowkowitz (Łowkowice) near Kreuzburg (Kluczbork) in Silesia, Prussia (later Germany). In 1822 he moved to Breslau (Wrocław), where he completed studies at a gymnasium. In 1833, he graduated from the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Breslau, and, in 1834, became an ordained Roman Catholic priest. He took over a parish in Karlsmarkt (Karłowice) from 1835–1868.

In his apiary, Dzierzon studied the social life of honeybees and constructed several experimental beehives. In 1838, he devised the first practical movable-comb beehive, which allowed manipulation of individual honeycombs without destroying the structure of the hive. The correct distance between combs had been described as 1 and ½ inches from the center of one top bar to the center of next one. In 1848 Dzierzon introduced grooves into the hive’s side walls replacing the strips of wood for moving top bars. The grooves had been 8 x 8 mm – exact average between 1/4 and 3/8 of an inch, which is range recently called bee space . His design quickly gained popularity in Europe and North America. On the basis of the aforementioned measurements, August von Berlepsch (May 1852) in Thuringia and L. L. Langstroth (October 1852) in the United States designed their frame-movable hives.

In 1835, Dzierzon discovered that the drones are produced from unfertilized eggs. The discovery was publicised in 1845. His results caused a revolution in bee crossbreeding. In 1854, he discovered the mechanism of secretion of the royal jelly and its role in the development of queens.

In 1872, Dzierzon received a honoris causa doctorate from the University of Munich. In 1874, he moved back to Lowkowitz.

Legacy

Dzierzon is the father of modern apiology and apiculture. All modern beehives are descendants of his design.

From 1936 to 1945 his hometown of Lowkowitz received the additional description as Bienendorf (German for "Bee Village"). It was named Łowkowice after the town's transfer to Communist Poland following World War II.

In 1946, the town of Rychbach (Reichenbach until 1945) was renamed Dzierżoniów in Dzierzon's honor. In 1962 a Jan Dzierżon's Museum of Apiculture was established in Kluczbork (Kreuzburg). Another was established in the town of Maciejów, which was called Matzdorf when he worked there.

Dzierzon received many honors, among them them the Austrian Order of Franz Joseph, the Bavarian Merit Order of St. Michael, the Hessian Ludwig Order, the Russian Order of St. Anna, the Swedish Order of Vasa, the Prussian Order of the Crown (4th Class) at his 90th birthday, and many more. He was an honorary member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, among others. Dzierżon received an honorary diploma at Graz, presented by Archduke Johann of Austria. In 1903 he was presented to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. In 1904 he became an honorary member of the Schlesische Gesellschaft für vaterländische Kultur ("Silesian Society for Fatherland Culture").

Selected works

His works include 800 articles in several scientific magazines and 26 books, published in German and Polish. The most important include:

  • 1848-1852: Theorie und Praxis des neuen Bienenfreundes ("Theory and Practice of the Modern Bee-friend")
  • 1852: Nachtrag zur Theorie und Praxis... (Appendix to "Theory and Practice")
  • 1854-1856: Der Bienenfreund aus Schlesien ("The Bee-friend from Silesia")
  • 1861-1878: Rationelle Bienenzucht ("Rational apiculture")
  • 1890: Der Zwillingstock ("Semi-detached beehive")

Articles by Dzierżon in Frauendörfer Blättern were collected by Rentmeister Bruckisch from Grottkau (Grodków) and re-published under the titles:

  • Neue verbesserte Bienen-Zucht des Johann Dzierzon, Brieg 1855
  • Neue verbesserte Bienen-Zucht des Pfarrers Dzierzon zu Carlsmarkt in Schlesien, 1861
  • Lebensbeschreibung von ihm selbst, vom 4. August 1885 (abgedruckt im Heimatkalender des Kreises Kreuzburg/OS 1931, S. 32-28), 1885 (Dziergon's biography, reprinted in 1931)
  • Der Zwillingsstock, 1890

References

  1. ^ W. Kocowicz i A. Kuźba "Tracing Jan Dzierżon Passion" Poznań 1987; page 8
  2. ^ W. Chmielewski "World-Famous Polish Beekeeper - Dr. Jan Dzierżon (1811-1906) and his work in the centenary year of his death" in Journal of Apicultural Research, Volume 45(3), 2006; page 1
  3. ^ Jan Dzierżon Museum in Kluczbork Template:Pl icon
  4. ^ Dziennik Zachodni, nr 190 B. S.: "Samo moje nazwisko mówi, żem Polak z urodzenia". 1961.
  5. ^ L. Brożek "Jan Dzierżon. Studium monograficzne" Opole 1978; page 43
  6. ^ S. Orgelbrand "Encyklopedia ..." 1861; see article: "Dzierżoń"
  7. ^ A. Gładysz "Jan Dzierżon, pszczelarz o światowej sławie" Katowice 1957; page 28
  8. ^ Britanica Encyclopaedia, 15th edition; article "Dzierżoniów" page 312

Further reading

  • L. Brożek "Jan Dzierżon. Studium monograficzne" Opole 1978
  • W. Kocowicz i A. Kuźba "Tracing Jan Dzierżon Passion" Poznań 1987
  • A. Gładysz "Jan Dzierżon, pszczelarz o światowej sławie" Katowice 1957
  • H. Borek i S. Mazak "Polskie pamiątki rodu Dzierżoniów" Opole 1983
  • W. Chmielewski "World-Famous Polish Beekeeper - Dr. Jan Dzierżon (1811-1906) and his work in the centenary year of his death" in Journal of Apicultural Research, Volume 45(3), 2006
  • S. Orgelbrand "Encyklopedia ..." 1861


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