Trained in theology, he combined his theoretical and practical work in apiculture with his duties as a Roman Catholic priest, before being compulsorily retired by the Church and eventually excommunicated over the question of papal infallibility.

[6][7][8] Dzierzon's manuscripts, letters, diplomas and original copies of his works were given to a Polish museum by his nephew, Franciszek Dzierżoń.

[11] Dzierzon was born on 16 January 1811 in the village of Lowkowitz (Polish: Łowkowice), near Kreuzburg (Kluczbork), where his parents owned a farm.

[12] In his apiary, Dzierzon studied the social life of honeybees and constructed several experimental beehives – possibly using ideas from Petro Prokopovych's widely-publicized developments.

In 1848 Dzierzon introduced grooves into the hive's side walls, replacing the strips of wood for moving top bars.

[17] The theory remained controversial until 1906, the year of Dzierzon's death, when it was finally accepted by scientists at a conference in Marburg.

[12] 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.

[21] Of his new home, he wrote:In every direction, one has a broad and pleasant view, and I am pretty happy here, despite the isolation, as I am always close to my beloved bees – which, if one's soul be receptive to the works of the Almighty and the wonders of nature, can transform even a desert into a paradise.

[24] Dzierzon's manuscripts, letters, diplomas and original copies of his works were given to a Polish museum by his nephew, Franciszek Dzierżoń.

[9] In 1936 the Germans renamed Dzierzon's birthplace, Lowkowitz, Bienendorf ("Bee Village") in recognition of his work with apiculture.

[12] Dzierzon's house in Granice Łowkowskie (now part of Maciejów village) was also turned into a museum chamber, and since 1974 his estates have been used for breeding Krain bees.

Tu spoczywa wielki uczony twórca nowoczesnego pszczelarstwa żarliwy patriota i obrońca polskiego ludu na Śląsku, Ks.

Here lies the great scientist, founder of modern beekeeping, ardent patriot and defender of the Polish people in Silesia, Father Dr. Jan Dzierżoń.

This tablet placed on the 60th anniversary of his death by the people of the Kluczbork Lands, 26 Oct 1966 Dzierzon's works include over 800 articles,[14] most published in Bienenzeitung[14] but also in several other scientific periodicals, and 26 books.

Gartenbau-Gesellschaft in Bayern, redigirt von Eugen Fürst[39] ("Frauendorf News" of the Bavarian Gardeners Society) were collected by Rentmeister Bruckisch from Grottkau (Grodków) and re-published under the titles: English translations: Media related to Johann Dzierzon at Wikimedia Commons