Jan Dzierżon

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Jan Dzierżon. =(ger. Johann Dzierzon)= Polish apiologist (16 January 1811 – 26 October 1906) was born in Silesia, (Kingdom of Prussia). He was catholic priest, an apiarist, inventor, famous for his discovery of parthenogenesis among bees, and for designing a movable-frame beehive.

1 Biography
2 Legacy
3 Literature
4 Selected works
5 External links

[edit] Biography

Dzierzon was born on 16 January 1811 in Łowkowice (German: Lowkowitz) near Kluczbork (Kreuzburg), Silesia in the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1822, he moved to Breslau/Wrocław, where he completed a gymnasium. In 1833, he graduated from the Faculty of Catholic Theology of Wrocław University, and, in 1834, became a ordained a catholic priest. In 1835 he took over a parish in (Karlsmarkt) Karłowice, which office he resigned in 1868.

In his apiary, Dzierzon studied the social life of the honeybees and constructed several experimental beehives. In 1838, he devised first practical movable-comb beehive, which allowed manipulation of individual honeycombs without destroying the structure of the hive. The corect 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 Jan 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 resently called "bee space" . His design quickly gained popularity in Central Europe.

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, Dr. Dzierzon received a honoris causa doctorate from the University of Munich. In 1874, he moved back to Lowkowitz, Landkreis Kreuzburg O.S. (from 1936-1945 called Bienendorf) and after 1945 renamed Łowkowice again. He died in Lowkowitz on 26 October 1906, at the age of 95. In 1946 town Rychbach (ger. Reichenbach) was named Dzierżoniów for commemorate him.

[edit] Legacy

Johann Dzierzon (the name used on his grave stone) is the father of modern apiology and apiculture. All modern beehives are descendants of his design.

In 1946, the town of Rychbach (till 1945 Reichenbach (in the Eulengebirge (Owl Mountains) in Lower Silesia was renamed Dzierżoniów in his honour. In 1962 a Jan Dzierżon's museum of apiculture was established in Kluczbork. There is another one, in Maciejów, where he also worked.

Dzierzon received many honors, among them them Franz-Joseph-Medal, the Preußischen Kronenordens 4. Klasse, Russian St. Anna- Medal, Swedish Wasa Medal and many more. He was honorary member of the German Academy of Science, Leopoldina and others. He received an honorary diploma at Graz, presented by Archduke Johann. In 1903 he was presented to the Austrian Emperor. In 1904 he became honorary member of the Silesian Schlesische Gesellschaft für vaterländische Kultur.

His Works:

800 articles in several scientific magazines.

26 books. Most imortant:

1848-1852: Praxis des neuen Bienenfreundes
1854-1856: Der Bienenfreund aus Schlesien
1861-1878: Rationelle Bienenzucht

Articles by Johann Dzierzon in Frauendörfer Blättern were collected by Rentmeister Bruckisch from Grottkau 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) (Dziergon's own personal story 1885, reprint 1931)
Der Zwillingsstock, 1890

[edit] Literature

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

[edit] Selected works

1847 – Theorie und Praxis des neuen Bienenfreundes (Theory and practice of modern bee-friend)
1852 – Nachtrag zur Theorie und Praxis... (Appendix to "Theory and practice")
1861 – Rationelle Bienenzucht (Rational apiculture)
1890 – Der Zwillingstock (Semi-detached beehive)