Paul Erman (29 February 1764 – 11 October 1851) was a German physicist from Berlin, Brandenburg and a Huguenot of the fourth generation. His work was mainly concerned with electricity and magnetism, though he also made some contributions to optics and physiology.
He was the son of the historian Jean Pierre Erman (1735–1814), author of Histoire des réfugiés.
Erman became teacher of science successively at the French gymnasium (Französisches Gymnasium Berlin) in Berlin, and at the military academy, and on the foundation of the University of Berlin in 18 months he was chosen professor of physics.
Erman died in Berlin. He had a son, Georg Adolf Erman who was a physicist, and a grandson Johann Peter Adolf Erman, known as an Egyptologist.
Erman is one of the three four recipients of the Galvanism Prize awarded by Napoleon. He obtained 3000 francs for his scientific research.
