Johann Ernst Spitzner

Johann Ernst Spitzner (born April 27, 1731 in Oberalbertsdorf ; † August 31, 1805 in Trebitz ) was a German Evangelical Lutheran theologian , economist and beekeeper .

Life

Johann Ernst Spitzner was a son of the pastor and master's degree Balthasar Andreas Spitzner (* May 23, 1679 in Blankenhain ; † July 20, 1755 in Oberalbertsdorf ) and his second wife Johanna Sophie (* June 5, 1703 in Ruppertsgrün ; † July 20, 1754 in Oberalbertsdorf), the daughter of the Ruppertsgrün pastor Johannes Heiffel. Johann Ernst was the 13th child and the 9th son out of 19 siblings, all of whom he survived. He received his first lessons from his father. At the age of seven he attended school in Niederalbertsdorf , where he developed a fondness for the Latin language . At the age of 14 Johann Ernst went to school in Ronneburg , where he knew how to expand his knowledge of ancient languages ​​to include Greek and Hebrew . After being rejected for a business apprenticeship, he returned to his birthplace. There he taught citizens' children and thus contributed to his livelihood. The father, who had recognized his son's abilities, then sent him to the grammar school in Zwickau , where he gained a great reputation among his teachers. During this time, Johann Ernst improved his economic situation by teaching younger students.

At Easter 1750, Johann Ernst Spitzner moved into the University of Jena . In addition to studying philosophy and theology , he gave private lessons and copied various papers. His father encouraged him to go to the University of Leipzig on March 16, 1753 , and also supported him financially. However, this support did not last long, so that he “felt compelled to leave the university because of poverty” and at Pentecost 1754 initially to take a position as private tutor in Bitterfeld . After "many years of candidate and private tutor life" he was looking for a new job and on May 24, 1761 became pastor in Lauterbach near Zwickau, where he was helped by the chance acquaintance of the chamberlain and Lauterbach collator von Schönberg .

Prior to that, Spitzner acquired the academic degree of Magister in Philosophy on April 29, 1761 at the University of Wittenberg . With support from Lauterbach, he was placed as a pastor in Trebitz, for which he first passed his theological exam on August 1, 1762 in Wittenberg. Delayed by the turmoil of the times , he was only able to take up his new office in January 1763. But in November of the same year he was afflicted by an apparently incurable illness, which initially confined him to bed for 15 weeks and suffered for almost two years. After a cure in Karlsbad , however, he returned almost completely recovered.

From now on he occupied himself intensively with beekeeping and other economic matters. As he grew older, in 1797, his second son Ernst Traugott (1771-1818) became his substitute , who after his father's death also succeeded him as pastor in Trebitz. In 1801 Johann Ernst Spitzner suffered a heart attack that partially paralyzed his body. However, he published a few more articles on his main topic, bees , and finally died in 1805 as a result of his physical weakness. Already before 1791 Johann Ernst Spitzner was an honorary member of the Royal Prussian Potsdam and Electoral Saxon Economic Society and before 1805 a member and veteran of the 1st Upper Lusatian bee society.

Act

Spitzner is considered a "well-known beekeeper" of his time and from 1770 onwards he wrote a large number of articles on bees, hornets , cockchafer and wasps and the like. a. in the Wittenberger Wochenblatt as well as in the Economic Hefts . The apiary in Germany "owes him her recovery and her better care very much." The principles of his bee care emerge in particular from his writings Practical Instructions for Natural and Happy Beekeeping in Baskets, together with the determination of the true value of the art of making offshoots , published in 1775/76, and detailed instruction on how to drive off existing bee swarmers at the right time without the slightest disadvantage of the old ones .

With his recognized merits, Spitzner was also not free from one-sidedness and often blind to the experiences of others, because they contradicted his system, which was established for him. Among the opponents of magazine beekeeping he had the say, and he got caught up in bitter disputes, the truth of which won little. The beekeeper Spitzner has therefore been described as "probably the best practitioner of the 18th century"; as a theorist, however, “he lacked freedom of spirit”. Johann Ernst Spitzner also worked as a writer in the agricultural field. So he said u. a. on breeding hyacinths . He also dealt with the practice of buying leaves observed among the rural population .

As a local clergyman, Spitzner, who is often referred to as a “bee pastor”, distinguished himself “through a righteous administration of his office”, furthermore “through not common knowledge […], and through active zeal to contribute as much as possible to the education of the youth”. In 1780 he had a new tower clock installed for his parish in Trebitz ; in 1784/85 he had a school built in Schnellin .

family

Spitzner married on July 19, 1763 in Düben with Charlotte Sophie (* July 27, 1744 in Düben, † November 7, 1805 in Trebitz), the only daughter of the Düben pastor Magister Johann Martin Auenmüller (* July 28, 1701 in Löbau; † February 11, 1764 in Düben) and his wife Eleonore Christiane geb. Koppe (born May 2, 1720 in Jüdenberg , † May 9, 1753 in Düben), daughter of the Jüdenberg pastor. From this marriage there were four sons and six daughters:

1. Christina Sophie Spitzner, * June 2, 1764 in Trebitz, † August 9, 1825 in Prettin , married on November 25, 1788 in Trebitz to Magister Johann Friedrich Volbeding, 1788 castle preacher and preacher at the soldiers ' boys' education institute in Annaburg , from 1797 senior pastor in Prettin, * September 12, 1760 in Barby , † October 2, 1813 in Prettin
2. Ernst August Spitzner, born October 29, 1766 in Trebitz, † December 8, 1840 in Crossen , Magister, from 1802 pastor in Crossen, married on May 30, 1813 in Blankenhain to Christiane Friederike Jokisch, the second daughter of Johann Friedrich Jokisch, businessman in Reichenbach
3. Friederike Wilhelmine Spitzner, born December 17, 1769 in Trebitz, died abroad
4. Ernst Traugott Spitzner, born September 12, 1771 in Trebitz, † August 29, 1818 in Trebitz, Magister in Wittenberg, ordained there in 1796, substitute for his sick father from 1797 to 1805 and pastor in Trebitz from 1805 to 1818, beekeeper, unmarried
5. Louise Caroline Spitzner, born December 15, 1773 in Trebitz, † August 6, 1776 in Trebitz, according to another representation of unknown location † 1819
6. Rahel Sophie Spitzner, born October 7, 1775 in Trebitz, married on May 7, 1809 in Elster to Friedrich August Rockland, Häusler , master rope maker and royal Prussian wood overseer in Elster, * January 6, 1765 in Elster, † January 29, 1833 in Elster, first married to Elisabeth Friedrich
7. Ernst Karl Spitzner, born November 10, 1777 in Trebitz, further details not known
8. Charlotta Friederike Spitzner, born December 29, 1779 in Trebitz, † July 14, 1813 in Bautzen , married on October 18, 1812 in Trebitz to Christian Gottlieb Rudolph, tenant of the Ratsziegelscheunen in Bautzen
9. Christiane Caroline Spitzner, born January 24, 1782 in Trebitz, † after 1846, married in 1823 to Johann Christian Schönherr, pastor in Podelwitz , * 1762 in Lauterbach , † 1845 in Stollberg , 1846 donor of a vacant space in the Konvikt of Leipzig University
10. Franz Spitzner , Dr. phil., classical philologist and rector of the grammar school in Wittenberg, married on November 26, 1815 in Stoß to Johanna Wilhelmine Gräffe, * May 31, 1789, † January 17, 1850 in Plauen .

Selection of works

• Clear instruction on how to lead the tame bees to fattening in the heyde or forest in Saxony. (Title in the table of contents: Useful addendum and instruction on how to lead the tame or garden bees in baskets to the nearest forests in Saxony and Heyden to fattening in autumn ). In: Adam Gottlob Schirach: Wald-Bienenzucht, After their great advantages, easy investment and waiting, Edited with copper and with a preface, together with the author's biography accompanied by Johann George Vogel. Wilhelm Gottlieb Korn, Breslau 1774, p. 213 ff. ( Books.google.de ), accessed on August 3, 2011
• Practical instruction for natural and happy beekeeping in baskets along with determining the true worth of the art of making offshoots. Adam Friedrich Böhme, Leipzig 1775
• Extensive instruction to drive away swarms of bees at the right time without the slightest disadvantage of the old ones at the right time and in an easy way. Adam Friedrich Böhme, Leipzig 1777
• Treatise of bees for all regions. Johann David Schöps, Zittau 1788
• Detailed description of basket beekeeping in the Saxon Chur district, its duration and its use, without artificial propagation according to the principles of natural history and based on our own long experience. With copper. Johann Friedrich Junius , Leipzig 1788 ( books.google.de ), accessed on August 3, 2011; Second, completely reworked, improved edition and enlarged with a copperplate : Detailed theoretical and practical description of bucket beekeeping, its duration and its use without art, based on established reasons of natural science and long personal experience. Johann Conrad Hinrichs , Leipzig 1810; third improved edition. With 3 coppers: M. Johann Ernst Spitzner's (...) detailed theoretical and practical description of basket beekeeping, based on established reasons from natural science and long personal experience. Edited by Friedrich Pohl. Johann Conrad Hinrichs, Leipzig 1823 ( books.google.de ), accessed on August 3, 2011
• Agriculture in vulgarity according to its undeniable advantages, shortcomings and possible improvements, partly in general, partly according to the establishment in the Saxon electoral district. Johann Friedrich Junius, Leipzig 1791 ( books.google.de ), accessed on August 3, 2011
• The return of the harmful late spring protection in the meadows to the old limits in accordance with nature and rights, which have been extended by ten days through the introduction of the new calendar, as the only easy, general and safe means of the pressing shortage of fodder in agriculture to help everywhere. Johann Friedrich Junius, Leipzig 1791 ( digital.slub-dresden.de ), accessed on March 10, 2012
• Remarks on bees in a large observation hive with glass windows. In: Johann Riem (ed.), New Collection of mixed economic writings. Fourth part, with copper. Walthersche Hofbuchhandlung, Dresden 1793, pp. 120 ff. ( Books.google.de ), accessed on February 17, 2012
• Call to patriotic-minded friends of natural history and bees. In: Oekonomische Hefte or collection of news, experiences and observations for the land and town host. Voss and Compagnie, Vol. 4, Leipzig 1795, pp. 447 ff. ( Books.google.de ), accessed on February 8, 2011
• Critical history of opinions on the sex of the bees, of the mating and fertilization of the queen, the production of the various species and other peculiarities in the bee republic. First part. With copper. Johann Gottlob Feind, Leipzig 1795 ( books.google.de ), accessed on August 3, 2011; Zweyter Theil, Leipzig 1795 ( books.google.de ), accessed on August 3, 2011
• New physical discovery in bees regarding mating. In: Oekonomische Hefte, or collection of news, experiences and observations for the city and farmer. Voss and Compagnie, Vol. 6, Leipzig, January 1796, pp. 1 ff. ( Books.google.de ), accessed on March 10, 2012
• Remarks on Mr. Hatzel's opinion of the fire in the wheat. In: Oekonomische Hefte, or collection of news, experiences and observations for the city and farmer. Expedition of the Allgemeine literary indicator, Vol. 12, Leipzig, May 1799, pp. 387 ff. ( Books.google.de ), accessed on April 22, 2012
• Description of the hornet's economy compared to bees. In: Oekonomische Hefte, or collection of news, experiences and observations for the city and farmer. Expedition of the General Literary Indicator at Koch & Weigel, Vol. 13, Leipzig, September 1799, pp. 193 ff. ( Books.google.de ), accessed on August 3, 2011
• Under what circumstances killing bees in autumn is more conducive to beekeeping than a hindrance. In: Oekonomische Hefte, or collection of news, experiences and observations for the city and farmer. Roch und Compagnie, Vol. 14, Leipzig, May 1800, pp. 385 ff. ( Books.google.de ), accessed on March 10, 2012
• Perpetual bee calendar in concise rules that have been tried and tested from long experience, or business of a father bee for the happy treatment of bees for every month of the year. Leipzig 1805; new edition. Johann Conrad Hinrichs, Leipzig 1810 ( books.google.de ), accessed on August 3, 2011

literature

• General German Library 1775, Vol. 25, 1st St., P. 287 f. (Review) ( ub.uni-bielefeld.de ), accessed on September 11, 2011
• Friedrich August Weiz : The learned Saxony or directory of those in the Churfürstl. Saxon. and incorporated countries of contemporary writers and their writings . Verlag Carl Friederich Schneider, Leipzig, 1780, p. 238 ( digital.slub-dresden.de ), accessed on September 10, 2011
• Journal for preachers. Carl Christian Krümmel, Vol. 19, Halle 1787, pp. 302 ff. ( Books.google.de ), accessed on September 10, 2011
• Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung 1788, No. 155 a, Col. 705 ff. (Review) ( zs.thulb.uni-jena.de , accessed on April 8, 2013)
• GE Wehrs: About buying leaves among the country folk, along with some remarks about the age of smallpox. In: Hannoverisches Magazin, Volume 27 (1789), Issue 29, Col. 449 ff. ( Books.google.de ), accessed on March 12, 2011
• Allgemeine deutsche Bibliothek 1790, Vol. 92, 1. St., S. 235 ff. (Review) ( www.ub.uni-bielefeld.de ), accessed on September 10, 2011
• Johann Beckmann (ed.): Physical-economic library in which reliable and complete information is given from the latest books relating to natural history, natural science and agriculture and city management. Vandenhoeck and Ruprechtscher Verlag , 17th volume, 1st piece, Göttingen 1791, p. 41 ff. (Review) ( books.google.de ), accessed on June 13, 2011
• Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliothek 1792, Vol. 111, 2nd St., P. 490 ff. (Review) ( online ) and Vol. 112, 2nd St., P. 473 ff. (Review) ( ub.uni-bielefeld. de ), accessed on September 10, 2011
• Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung 1792, No. 212, Col. 321 ff. (Review) ( zs.thulb.uni-jena.de , accessed on April 8, 2013)
• Leonhard Ludwig Finke: Attempt of a general medical-practical geography, in which the historical part of the local national and national medical science is presented. Weidmannsche Buchhandlung , Vol. 2, Leipzig 1792, p. 498 f. ( books.google.de ), accessed on March 12, 2011
• Neue Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliothek 1796, vol. 27, 2nd St., p. 329 ff. (Review) ( ub.uni-bielefeld.de ), accessed on September 10, 2011
• Johann Georg Meusel : The learned Teutschland or Lexicon of the now living German writers. Meyersche Buchhandlung, Vol. 7, Lemgo 1798, p. 572 f. ( books.google.com ), accessed September 10, 2011
• Neue Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliothek 1804, Vol. 92, 1. St., S. 207 ff. (Review) ( ub.uni-bielefeld.de ), accessed on September 10, 2011
• Obituary. In: Wittenberger Wochenblatt 1805, pp. 315, 325 and 411
• Samuel Baur: General historical-biographical-literary concise dictionary of all strange people who died in the first decade of the nineteenth century. Verlag der Stettinische Buchhandlung, Vol. 2: M - Z, Ulm 1816, Sp. 518 f. ( books.google.de ), accessed on September 10, 2011
• Johann Friedrich Franz: New mirror of virtue, or anecdotes and character traits from the youth of memorable people, old and new times, with a selection of related poems. Dalp, 2nd increased edition, Chur 1830, p. 25 f.
• Hermann August Hagen : Bibliotheca Entomologica. The literature on the entire field of entomology up to the year 1862. Engelmann, Vol. 2: N - Z, Leipzig 1863, p. 181 f. ( books.google.de ), accessed on April 3, 2011
• Pierer's Universal Lexicon of the Past and Present, or Latest Encyclopedic Dictionary of Sciences, Arts and Crafts. Pierer , fourth, revised and greatly increased edition, Vol. 16, Altenburg 1863, p. 577 ( books.google.com ), accessed on September 10, 2011
• Carl Julius Böttcher (ed.): The pilgrim from Saxony. Justus Naumann's Buchhandlung, Volume 30, Leipzig / Dresden 1864, p. 365 ( books.google.de ), accessed on September 10, 2011
• August von Berlepsch : The bee and its breeding with movable combs in areas without late summer costume. Printed by J. Schneider, 3rd edition, Mannheim 1873, p. 567 ( books.google.de ), accessed on November 25, 2014
• Franz Brümmer :  Spitzner, Johann Ernst . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 35, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1893, pp. 225 f., Accessed on September 10, 2011
• Erich Weise (ed.): Family chronicle of the Spitzner family. Printed and published by C. Heinrich, Dresden 1936, pp. 33, 36 and 41 f.
• Fritz Juntke : Album Academiae Vitebergensis - Younger Series, Part 3 (1710-1812). Niemeyer , Halle / Saale 1966, p. 450
• Walter Spitzner: Spitzner family archive, bulletin. Self-published, Ettlingen 1/1982, p. 1 f.
• Heinrich Kühne: Bee father JE Spitzner. In: Erzgebirgische Heimatblätter 7 (1985) 2, p. 42 f.
• Veronika Albrecht-Birkner : Pastors book of the church province of Saxony. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Vol. 8: Biogramme Schr - To, Leipzig 2008, p. 317 ISBN 978-3-374-02140-6
• Albert Spitzner-Jahn: The Vogtland Spitzner family. Self-published, 2nd edition, Kamp-Lintfort 2011, pp. 10, 56 and 161