Johann Dzierzon
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Johann_Dzierzon.jpg/220px-Johann_Dzierzon.jpg)
Jan Dzierżon (known also as: Johann Dzierzon or Johannes Dzierzon, 16 January 1811 – 26 October 1906) was Polish[1]-German [2] [3][4] [5][6][7], Roman Catholic priest and a distinguished apiarist who was best known for his discovery of parthenogenesis among bees, and for designing the first successful movable-frame beehive.
Early life
Jan Dzierżon was born and died in Łowkowice (German:Lowkowitz) near Kluczbork (German:Kreuzburg) in Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia (later part of the German Empire).
Dzierżon is variously described as a Pole [8][9][This quote needs a citation] [10][11][12], a German,[13] or a Silesian. He considered himself a member of the Polish nation,[1][14] as he was member of a native Silesian Polish family. His parents who did not speak German[15][This quote needs a citation] were also Polish.[14][16][17][This quote needs a citation] [18]. His mother's name was Maria z Jantosiów (Polish surname: Jantos);[19][This quote needs a citation]
After completing Polish elementary school he was sent to a Protestant one located a mile away from his village[20][This quote needs a citation] . In 1822 he moved to Breslau (Wrocław), where he attended a middle school commonly know in that area as a gymnasium. In 1833, he graduated from the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the Breslau University, and, in 1834, became chaplain in Siołkowice (Schalkowitz). As an ordained Roman Catholic priest he took over a parish in Karłowice (Karlsmarkt) in 1835. Years later his religious authorities took offence at his scientific research and retired him in 1869.[21][This quote needs a citation]
Professional career
In his apiary, Jan Dzierżon 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 × 8 mm—exact average between ¼ and ⅜ 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, Dzierżon discovered that the drones are produced from unfertilized eggs. The discovery was published in 1845. The publication, which remained controversial until 1906, proposed that while queen bees and female worker bees were the result of fertilization, drones were not, and that the diets of immature bees contributed to their subsequent roles.[22] His results caused a revolution in bee crossbreeding and may have influenced Gregor Mendel's pioneering genetic research.[23] In 1853, he acquired a colony of Italian bees to use as genetic markers in his research, and sent their progeny "...to all the countries of Europe, and even to America."[24] In 1854, he discovered the mechanism of secretion of the royal jelly and its role in the development of queens.
In 1872, Dzierżon received a honoris causa doctorate from the University of Munich. In 1874, he moved back to Łowkowice. From 1873 to 1902 Dzierżon, a sympathizer of Döllinger, was a member of the Old Catholic Church, but in 1905 he was reconciled to the Roman Catholic Church, after a series of theological debates with curate Szoltysek of the Roman Catholic parish of Łomkowice in Upper Silesia.
Legacy
Jan Dzierżon is the father of modern apiology and apiculture. All modern beehives are descendants of his design. The correct distance between combs was described in 1845 by Jan Dzierżon as 1½ inches from the center of one top bar to the center of the 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 × 8 mm—exact average between ¼ and ⅜ of an inch, which is range recently called bee space.
In 1936, his village of birth, Łowkowice (Lowkowitz), was renamed by Nazi Germany to Bienendorf (German for "Bee Village") and kept the name until 1945.[25] It was renamed Łowkowice after the region came under Polish control following World War II.
Also, after 1945, the town of Reichenbach im Eulengebirge was first renamed Rychbach, then Dzierżoniów in Dzierzon's honor[9]. In 1962, a Jan Dzierżon's Museum of Apiculture was established in Kluczbork (Kreuzburg).
Jan Dzierżon received several honors, among 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. He also received an honorary diploma at Graz, presented by Archduke Johann of Austria. In 1903 Dzierżon 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 - after translation Polish. The most important include:
- 15 Nov 1845: Sztuka zrobienica złota, nawet z zielska Tygodnik Polski Poświęcony Włościanom, Pszczyna.[26]
- 1848-1852: Theorie und Praxis des neuen Bienenfreundes ("Theory and Practice of the Modern Bee-friend") [3]
- 1851 and 1859: Nowe udoskonalone pszczelnictwo księdza plebana Dzierżona w Katwicach na Śląsku. Leszno 2006 reprint [4]
- 1852: Nachtrag zur Theorie und Praxis des neuen Bienenfreundes (Appendix to "Theory and Practice"), C. H. Beck'sche Buchhandlung, Nördlingen, [5]
- 1853: Najnowsze pszczelnictwo. Lwów [6]
Magazines published by Dzierzon:
- 1854-1856: Der Bienenfreund aus Schlesien ("The Bee-friend from Silesia") [7] American bee journal
- 1861-1878: Rationelle Bienenzucht ("Rational apiculture") [8] [9]
Articles by Dzierżon in Frauendörfer Blätter ("Frauendorf News") were collected by Rentmeister Bruckisch from Grottkau (Grodków) and re-published under the titles:
- Neue verbesserte Bienen-Zucht des Johann Dzierzon ("New improved bee-breeding, of John Dzierzon"), Brieg 1855
- Neue verbesserte Bienen-Zucht des Pfarrers Dzierzon zu Carlsmarkt in Schlesien ("New improved bee-breeding, of priest Dzierzon at Carlsmarkt in Silesia"), Ernst'sche Buchhandlung, 1861 [10]
- Lebensbeschreibung von ihm selbst, vom 4. August 1885 (abgedruckt im Heimatkalender des Kreises Kreuzburg/OS 1931, S. 32-28), 1885 (Dziergon's own biography, reprinted in 1931)[11] [12]
- Der Zwillingsstock ("Semi-detached beehive"), E. Thielmann, 1890 [13] illustration
English translations:
- Dzierzon's rational bee-keeping; or The theory and practice of dr. Dzierzon of Carlsmarkt, Translated by H. Dieck and S. Stutterd, ed. and revised by C. N. Abbott, Published by Houlston & sons, 1882 [14]
See also
References
- ^ a b http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC19475064&id=qRgPAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA788&lpg=PA788&dq=dzierzon&num=100#PPA789,M1
- ^ A Calendar of the correspondence of Charles Darwin, 1821-1882, with supplement. Cambridge University Press. 1994. pp. S28. ISBN 0521434238.
Dzierzon, Johannes (1811-1906). Distinguished German apiarian noted for his theory of parthenogenesis
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ Harbison, W. C. (2009). Bees and Bee-Keeping. READ BOOKS. p. 114. ISBN 1444646591.
a German apiarian, named Dzierzon
- ^ Browne, E. Janet (2002). Charles Darwin: The power of place. Knopf. p. 203. ISBN 0679429328.
As Darwin's web of inquiries spread outwards, even the eminent German apiarian Johannes Dzierzon informed him that variation was negligible
{{cite book}}
: line feed character in|quote=
at position 79 (help) - ^ "Beekeeping in the United States" (Issue 335 of Agriculture handbook). United States. Agricultural Research Service: 2.
{{cite journal}}
:|issue=
has extra text (help); Cite journal requires|journal=
(help); Text "This method apparently made little impact on the rest of Europe until Dzierzon, a German clergyman, improved and used it in Germany" ignored (help) - ^ Rostand, Jean (1973). Humanly possible; a biologist's notes on the future of mankind. Saturday Review Press. ISBN 0841501777.
In 1850, the German beekeeper, Johann Dzierzon, who discovered parthenogenesis in honeybees
{{cite book}}
: line feed character in|quote=
at position 79 (help) - ^ Darwin, Charles (1997). Frederick Burkhardt, Joy Harvey, Duncan M. Porter, Jonathan R. Topham (ed.). The Correspondence of Charles Darwin. Vol. 10 (1862). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521590329.
renowned German beekeeper Johannes Dzierzon
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) - ^ http://www.library.umass.edu/spcoll/exhibits/bees/six.htm
- ^ a b Britanica Encyclopaedia, 15th edition; article "Dzierżoniów" page 312; online version (retrieved on 23 January 2007)
- ^ Other English language sources identifying him as Polish include
- The Guardian
- Placenames of the World: origins and meanings of the names for 6,600 countries, page 117
- NewScientist.com
- Template:De icon 3sat online
- Apiculture and Culture Books on Bees and Beekeeping, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, edited by R.S. Cox
- [1] Jan Dzierzon, as recognized by the Darwin Correspondence Project at University of Cambridge
- ^ Other sources
- Dziennik Zachodni, nr 190 B. S.: "Samo moje nazwisko mówi, żem Polak z urodzenia". 1961.Template:Pl icon
- L. Brożek "Jan Dzierżon. Studium monograficzne" Opole 1978; page 43.Template:Pl icon
- A. Gładysz "Jan Dzierżon, pszczelarz o światowej sławie" Katowice 1957; page 28.Template:Pl icon
- Adam Mieczyński "Pszczolnictwo polskie czyli zbiór pism najpraktyczniejszych pszczolarzy polskich i amatorów pszczolnictwa" Warszawa 1858 Template:Pl icon
- Lesław Łukaszewicz "Rys dziejów piśmiennictwa polskiego" (online version retrieved on 23 Jan 2007, Google books from Stanford libraries) 1860; page 788 Template:Pl icon
- Samuel Orgelbrand "Encyklopedia Powszechna" 1861; see article: "Dzierzon" Template:Pl icon
- ^ *W. Kocowicz i A. Kuźba "Tracing Jan Dzierżon Passion" Poznań 1987; page 8
- 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
- Jan Dzierżon Museum in Kluczbork Template:Pl icon
- ^ Charles Darwin, Frederick Burkhardt, Sydney Smith, Joy Harvey, Duncan M. Porter (1997). The Correspondence of Charles Darwin: 1862. Cambridge University Press.
The reference is to the renowned German beekeeper, Johannes Dzierzon.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b http://www.kluczbork.pl/kluczbork/historia/dzierzon.php
- ^ Bogdan Cimała, "Kluczbork: dzieje miasta" (Kluczbork, City History), Instytut Śląski, 1992, [2]
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?ei=dCQiSuT1IJXaywTWjfixAw&id=nJESAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22Maria+Jantosi%C3%B3w%22&q=%22Jantosi%C3%B3w%22&pgis=1#search_anchor
- ^ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/175400/Jan-Dzierzon
- ^ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/08/030822074151.htm
- ^ See discussion at Studia i materiały z dziejów Śląska (1958), p.531 and Bogdan Cimała, Kluczbork: dzieje miasta (1992), p.99
- ^ "Patroni ulic Wrocławia" Zygmunt Antkowiak, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, 1982
- ^ "Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, 4th edition, volume 5" Leipzig 1885-1889; page 268; online version (retrieved on 6 February 2007) Template:De icon
- ^ Everett Mendelsohn, Garland E. Allen (2002). Science, history, and social activism. Springer.
- ^ Alfred Henry Sturtevant, Edward B. Lewis (2001). A history of genetics. CSHL Press.
- ^ Eva Crane. The world history of beekeeping and honey hunting. Taylor & Francis.
- ^ Niemcy "przechrzcili” miejscowość znaną pod polską nazwą w całym świecie (Łowkowice = Bienendorf). Ilustrowany Kuryer Codzienny, 8 X 1936, nr 280.
- ^ Article, signed Dzierzoń, online at digitalsilesia.eu
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
- “ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture” 1990, article Dzierzon pg 147
External links
- Rational Bee-keeping online English translation of Jan Dzierzon's book (London: Houlston & sons, 1882)
- Jan Dzierżon at History of Kluczbork Template:En icon
- Jan Dzierżon Museum in Kluczbork Template:Pl icon
- Jan Dzierżon Museum in Kluczbork Template:En icon
- Family Photos on Website with grave of Johann Dzierzon Template:De icon
- Silesian article from 2006 Template:De icon Polish version Template:Pl icon
- Church Records of Lowkowitz, Silesia from 1765- 1948, where Johann Dzierzon was born in 1811 and died in 1906