Wissmann, Eduard (pseudonym Erwin Wester)

Judge, politician, writer

Born: 27.09.1824 in Gemünden (Westerwald)

died: 29.08.1899 in Wiesbaden

Wissmann, the son of a pastor, attended the Pädagogium in Hadamar and the Gymnasium Philippinum in Weilburg. From 1843, he studied law in Heidelberg and Berlin.

After passing the state examination, he entered the civil service of the Duke of Nassau. In 1848 he became an accessory, then an assessor at several courts and, from 1866, an official assessor in Hadamar. From 1867 until his retirement in 1893, he was a district court judge and 12 years later a district court judge in Wiesbaden. As a representative of the German Free Finns Party (DFP), he was a member of the Prussian House of Representatives for the Dill district and the Upper Westerwald district from 1873-79 and 1882-92. In addition to his professional activities, he was involved in church and various public committees.

Wissmann had been active as a writer since his school days. As Erwin Wester, he published poems, short stories, novellas, dramas and fairy tales. His best-known work is the story "Das Petermännchen".