Professor Jan Gordzyalkovsky (1862–1944): 160-th anniversary of the birth of one of the most famous Polish experts in veterinary medicine

Abstract

The aim of the proposed article is to highlight the life path and scientific achievements of Jan Gordzyalkowski (1862–1944), one of the most famous experts of veterinary medicine in interwar Poland, a well-known veterinarian practitioner, microbiologist, encyclopedist, one of the founders of veterinary education. The presentation of the materi-al in the article is presented in the context of the main stages in the life of a scientist – „Mauritsin”, „Kharkiv”, „Kher-son”, „Kharkiv”, „Petersburg”, „Kharkiv”, „Petersburg” and „Warsaw”. The article highlights only those stages that are provided with sufficient sources and literature. The authors paid special attention to the Kharkiv period of the scientist's life, since this city is associated with the time of study within the walls of the Veterinary Institute, the formation as a scientist and directly scientific and teaching activities. Also, based on the analysis of archival documents from the fund of the Kharkiv Veterinary Institute, stored in the State Archives of the Kharkiv region, it is proved that he had consider-able authority as a scientist and practitioner, since he was involved by government agencies to perform various tasks, and in particular during the First World War and for the development of veterinary medicine in different regions of the state. The memory of Jan Gordzyalkowsky in Kharkiv is immortalized on the pages of the calendar dedicated to out-standing Polish scientists associated with the city, in an open exhibition dedicated to the 170th anniversary of the Kharkiv State Zoological Veterinary Academy and in a memorial plaque, which will be installed on the building of the former Kharkiv Veterinary Institute and dedicated to outstanding Poles, the creators of veterinary medicine in Eastern Ukraine.