譚(tan)鐘麟(1822-1905),湖南茶陵人(ren),清末政治人(ren)物(wu)。是咸豐六(liu)年(nian)(1856年(nian))進(jin)士,年(nian)輕時(shi)曾游歷陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西,對(dui)陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西的(de)風土人(ren)情有所了(le)解。同治十(shi)年(nian)(1871年(nian)),由陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)甘總督左(zuo)宗棠奏準調(diao)入陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西,出任(ren)陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西布政使(shi),不久便(bian)護理巡撫。來(lai)陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)任(ren)職前,陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西曾發生回(hui)民起義(yi),回(hui)漢(han)矛盾(dun)尖銳,許多(duo)回(hui)民難(nan)以為生。他(ta)到任(ren)后,解除(chu)了(le)不許回(hui)民出城的(de)禁令,并指示(shi)各府縣(xian)(xian)秉公(gong)處(chu)理回(hui)漢(han)訴訟,贏得陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西回(hui)民贊譽。他(ta)重(zhong)(zhong)視教育,對(dui)建于明萬歷二(er)十(shi)年(nian)(1592年(nian))、已有兩百余年(nian)歷史、當時(shi)卻幾近關(guan)(guan)閉的(de)關(guan)(guan)中書(shu)院(yuan),下大力氣(qi)進(jin)行整頓(dun),參照朱子白鹿(lu)洞書(shu)院(yuan)的(de)規章和(he)課程(cheng)設置,修訂了(le)關(guan)(guan)中書(shu)院(yuan)的(de)課程(cheng),并提(ti)出重(zhong)(zhong)躬(gong)行、講經(jing)義(yi)、稽史事、通時(shi)務、嚴(yan)課程(cheng)五項辦(ban)學要求,使(shi)關(guan)(guan)中書(shu)院(yuan)重(zhong)(zhong)新振(zhen)興。他(ta)還(huan)注重(zhong)(zhong)實(shi)業(ye),督導興修水利,疏(shu)通白公(gong)渠;發放蠶(can)種(zhong)紙,鼓勵百姓種(zhong)桑(sang)養蠶(can),使(shi)陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西絲(si)織業(ye)大興。光(guang)緒元(yuan)年(nian)三月十(shi)五日(1875年(nian)4月20日)實(shi)授陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西巡撫,賞一品頂戴(dai)(dai)并賞頂戴(dai)(dai)花翎。三年(nian)(1877年(nian))陜(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西大旱。譚(tan)鐘麟奏請(qing)緩征(zheng)蒲城、綏德(de)等(deng)49廳(ting)州縣(xian)(xian)本(ben)年(nian)未征(zheng)和(he)舊欠錢糧(liang);急調(diao)各州縣(xian)(xian)社倉庫糧(liang)賑濟災(zai)(zai)民;本(ben)省賑糧(liang)不敷,他(ta)通過(guo)朝廷(ting)向閩、粵(yue)海(hai)關(guan)(guan)借(jie)銀,解決向外(wai)省購糧(liang)、運糧(liang)所需經(jing)費。賑災(zai)(zai)中,他(ta)嚴(yan)禁囤積(ji)居奇,嚴(yan)懲(cheng)肥私官吏(li),使(shi)災(zai)(zai)年(nian)平穩渡(du)過(guo)。
光(guang)緒五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1879年(nian)(nian)(nian))秋(qiu)調(diao)(diao)任浙(zhe)江巡撫,加兵(bing)部尚書銜。他(ta)(ta)派人清查土地(di),核實漕(cao)平,更定厘稅,治浚(jun)河道,鼓勵商運,修(xiu)筑炮臺,重建(jian)文(wen)(wen)瀾閣并珍藏乾隆帝(di)賜予的“四庫全書”,名震一方。兩年(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou),調(diao)(diao)任陜甘(gan)總督。為(wei)準備(bei)新(xin)(xin)疆(jiang)(jiang)建(jian)立行省(sheng),他(ta)(ta)于(yu)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1882年(nian)(nian)(nian))曾(ceng)奏(zou)(zou)請在新(xin)(xin)疆(jiang)(jiang)南(nan)路設(she)置(zhi)丞倅牧(mu)令(ling)道員(yuan);十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian))新(xin)(xin)疆(jiang)(jiang)正(zheng)式建(jian)省(sheng)后(hou),他(ta)(ta)為(wei)改變每年(nian)(nian)(nian)向(xiang)新(xin)(xin)疆(jiang)(jiang)調(diao)(diao)運糧(liang)餉征用大批民(min)車的做法,專設(she)官車局,減輕了百(bai)姓負擔。為(wei)解決鹽(yan)(yan)販哄(hong)抬鹽(yan)(yan)價問題(ti),他(ta)(ta)制訂(ding)就場征課法,使食鹽(yan)(yan)價格下降。還在蘭州創(chuang)建(jian)求(qiu)(qiu)古(gu)書院,在甘(gan)州(今甘(gan)肅張掖)創(chuang)建(jian)河西精舍,選拔文(wen)(wen)人學者著書講學。十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1885年(nian)(nian)(nian))中法戰(zhan)爭(zheng)爆發。他(ta)(ta)上(shang)奏(zou)(zou)朝(chao)廷,請求(qiu)(qiu)率(lv)軍迎敵,未(wei)允。十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1888年(nian)(nian)(nian))黃河決口,主動籌集60萬兩白銀援(yuan)助河南(nan)修(xiu)堤(di)、賑災。任陜甘(gan)總督六年(nian)(nian)(nian)半,陜甘(gan)文(wen)(wen)化和經(jing)濟均有(you)發展(zhan),庫儲(chu)銀百(bai)余(yu)萬兩,各(ge)州縣積谷數百(bai)萬石,比他(ta)(ta)就任時(shi)增長十(shi)倍以上(shang)。同年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1888年(nian)(nian)(nian))以目疾開(kai)缺回籍養病。
十(shi)(shi)七(qi)年(nian)(1891年(nian))春(chun)奉(feng)旨入京(jing),以尚書(shu)銜補吏部(bu)左(zuo)侍(shi)郎,后歷任戶部(bu)左(zuo)侍(shi)郎、工部(bu)尚書(shu)、閩浙(zhe)總(zong)(zong)督(du)、四(si)川總(zong)(zong)督(du)等職(zhi)。二(er)十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(1894年(nian))加賞太子(zi)少(shao)保銜。二(er)十(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(1895年(nian))春(chun)調(diao)任兩(liang)(liang)廣總(zong)(zong)督(du),殘酷(ku)鎮壓了孫(sun)中(zhong)山(shan)領導的(de)乙未(wei)廣州起義。二(er)十(shi)(shi)五年(nian) (1899年(nian)),上諭令譚鐘麟赴北京(jing)覲見,次年(nian)李鴻章實授(shou)兩(liang)(liang)廣總(zong)(zong)督(du)。三十(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(1905年(nian)),譚鐘麟逝世,終年(nian)83歲,謚文勤。