Joost Berman

Joost Berman
Illustration in Geschiedkundige beschrijving der St. Lievens Monster (1834), a book by Joost Berman
Born	(1793-01-09)January 9, 1793 Ouwerkerk
Died	March 18, 1855(1855-03-18) (aged 62) Zierikzee
Alma mater	Leiden University
Occupation	lawyer, judge, writer, politician
Children	Ds. Alexander Johan Berman (1828–1886)
Parent(s)	Geertruida der Weduwen (?–1844) Maarten Berman (1769–1832)
Relatives	Leendert Berman (grandfather) Simon Berman (grandson) Bart Berman (2nd great-grandson) Helen (w. of 2nd great-grandson) René Berman (3rd great-grandson) Thijs Berman (3rd great-grandson)

Joost Berman (9 January 1793 – 18 March 1855) was a Dutch lawyer, judge, politician, poet, nonfiction writer, and editor.

Joost Berman was born in Ouwerkerk as the son of Maarten Berman (1769–1832) en Geertruida der Weduwen (1772?–1844). Along with some contemporaries from an evolving rural farming elite, he managed to complete his studies at the French and Latin schools. When he went on to study law at Leiden University (1814–1817), he was the first of these farmer boys to acquire higher education.

After graduating, Joost Berman worked as an attorney in Zierikzee. Subsequently he was employed by the local court, serving as Assistant Clerk to the Court, Clerk to the Court, Judge of Peace, and from 1838 as Canton Judge. In 1843 Jacobus Boeije succeeded Berman as Canton Judge and Berman served again as Clerk to the Court until 1851.

Joost Berman wrote several works of poetry mobilizing public opinion against the Belgian Revolution, supporting a continued Dutch rule over Belgium. His dissertation and some other nonfiction works were also published. Berman often wrote for magazines.

From 1836 to 1847, Berman was co-editor of the "Zeeland People's Almanac" (Dutch: Zeeuwsche Volks-Almanak), alongside Rev. H.M.C. van Oosterzee. While meticulously covering all of Zeeland, both editors lived in Zierikzee, putting Schouwen slightly more central in the Almanac than customary in Zeeland publications.

In the elections of 26 September 1848 for the city council of Zierikzee, Joost Berman received 75 votes, just one vote less than the last candidate to receive a 9 year appointment to the council. Berman and the two candidates behind him were selected to fill in places of deceased council members for a "short" term of 6 years.

On 29 July 1817, Joost Berman married Neeltje Sevenhuizen (1797–1871) from Zierikzee. They had 12 children, 4 of whom died at a young age. In 1823, Berman was released from serving in the Zierikzee's civil guard for health reasons.