譚鐘麟(lin)(1822-1905),湖南茶(cha)陵人(ren),清末政治人(ren)物。是咸豐六年(nian)(1856年(nian))進士,年(nian)輕時曾(ceng)游歷(li)陜(shan)(shan)西(xi),對陜(shan)(shan)西(xi)的(de)風(feng)土人(ren)情(qing)有所(suo)了(le)解。同治十年(nian)(1871年(nian)),由陜(shan)(shan)甘總督(du)左宗棠奏(zou)準(zhun)調入陜(shan)(shan)西(xi),出任陜(shan)(shan)西(xi)布政使(shi),不(bu)久便(bian)護(hu)理巡撫。來陜(shan)(shan)任職(zhi)前,陜(shan)(shan)西(xi)曾(ceng)發(fa)(fa)生回(hui)(hui)民起(qi)義(yi),回(hui)(hui)漢矛盾尖銳,許多回(hui)(hui)民難以為生。他(ta)到任后(hou),解除(chu)了(le)不(bu)許回(hui)(hui)民出城的(de)禁令,并(bing)指示各(ge)(ge)府(fu)縣秉公處理回(hui)(hui)漢訴訟,贏得陜(shan)(shan)西(xi)回(hui)(hui)民贊(zan)譽。他(ta)重視教(jiao)育,對建(jian)于明萬歷(li)二十年(nian)(1592年(nian))、已有兩百余年(nian)歷(li)史、當時卻幾近關(guan)(guan)(guan)閉的(de)關(guan)(guan)(guan)中(zhong)書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),下大力氣進行整頓,參照朱子白鹿洞書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)規(gui)章和課(ke)程(cheng)設(she)置,修訂了(le)關(guan)(guan)(guan)中(zhong)書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)課(ke)程(cheng),并(bing)提出重躬行、講經義(yi)、稽史事、通(tong)時務、嚴課(ke)程(cheng)五項辦學要求,使(shi)關(guan)(guan)(guan)中(zhong)書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)重新振興。他(ta)還注重實(shi)業,督(du)導(dao)興修水利,疏通(tong)白公渠;發(fa)(fa)放蠶種紙,鼓(gu)勵百姓種桑養(yang)蠶,使(shi)陜(shan)(shan)西(xi)絲織業大興。光緒元年(nian)三(san)月十五日(1875年(nian)4月20日)實(shi)授陜(shan)(shan)西(xi)巡撫,賞(shang)一品頂戴并(bing)賞(shang)頂戴花(hua)翎。三(san)年(nian)(1877年(nian))陜(shan)(shan)西(xi)大旱。譚鐘麟(lin)奏(zou)請(qing)緩征蒲城、綏德等49廳州縣本年(nian)未(wei)征和舊欠錢糧;急(ji)調各(ge)(ge)州縣社倉庫糧賑(zhen)(zhen)濟(ji)災(zai)民;本省賑(zhen)(zhen)糧不(bu)敷,他(ta)通(tong)過朝(chao)廷向(xiang)閩、粵(yue)海關(guan)(guan)(guan)借銀,解決向(xiang)外省購糧、運(yun)糧所(suo)需經費。賑(zhen)(zhen)災(zai)中(zhong),他(ta)嚴禁囤積居奇,嚴懲(cheng)肥(fei)私官(guan)吏,使(shi)災(zai)年(nian)平(ping)穩渡(du)過。
光緒五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1879年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))秋調(diao)任(ren)浙江巡撫,加兵部(bu)尚書銜。他(ta)(ta)派人清查土地,核實漕平,更定厘(li)稅(shui),治浚(jun)河(he)道,鼓勵商運(yun),修筑(zhu)炮臺,重(zhong)建(jian)文瀾(lan)閣并(bing)珍藏乾隆帝賜予的(de)“四庫全書”,名震一(yi)方。兩(liang)(liang)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后,調(diao)任(ren)陜(shan)甘(gan)(gan)總(zong)督(du)。為(wei)準備新(xin)(xin)(xin)疆建(jian)立行省,他(ta)(ta)于八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1882年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))曾奏(zou)請(qing)(qing)在(zai)新(xin)(xin)(xin)疆南路設置丞倅(cui)牧(mu)令道員;十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))新(xin)(xin)(xin)疆正(zheng)式建(jian)省后,他(ta)(ta)為(wei)改(gai)變每年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)向新(xin)(xin)(xin)疆調(diao)運(yun)糧餉征用大批(pi)民車(che)的(de)做(zuo)法(fa),專設官(guan)車(che)局,減輕了百(bai)(bai)姓負擔。為(wei)解決鹽(yan)販哄抬(tai)鹽(yan)價(jia)問題,他(ta)(ta)制訂就場征課法(fa),使(shi)食鹽(yan)價(jia)格(ge)下降。還在(zai)蘭州創建(jian)求(qiu)古書院,在(zai)甘(gan)(gan)州(今甘(gan)(gan)肅張掖)創建(jian)河(he)西精舍(she),選拔文人學(xue)者著書講學(xue)。十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1885年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))中法(fa)戰(zhan)爭爆發(fa)。他(ta)(ta)上(shang)(shang)奏(zou)朝廷(ting),請(qing)(qing)求(qiu)率軍迎敵,未允。十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1888年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))黃河(he)決口(kou),主動籌集(ji)60萬兩(liang)(liang)白(bai)銀援助河(he)南修堤、賑災。任(ren)陜(shan)甘(gan)(gan)總(zong)督(du)六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)半(ban),陜(shan)甘(gan)(gan)文化(hua)和經(jing)濟均有發(fa)展,庫儲銀百(bai)(bai)余萬兩(liang)(liang),各州縣(xian)積(ji)谷(gu)數百(bai)(bai)萬石,比(bi)他(ta)(ta)就任(ren)時增長(chang)十(shi)倍以上(shang)(shang)。同年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1888年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))以目疾開缺回籍(ji)養病。
十七年(nian)(1891年(nian))春(chun)奉旨入京,以尚書銜補(bu)吏(li)部(bu)左(zuo)侍(shi)郎(lang),后歷任(ren)戶部(bu)左(zuo)侍(shi)郎(lang)、工部(bu)尚書、閩浙總督、四川總督等職。二(er)十年(nian)(1894年(nian))加賞太子少保銜。二(er)十一年(nian)(1895年(nian))春(chun)調任(ren)兩廣總督,殘酷鎮壓了孫中(zhong)山領導的(de)乙未廣州(zhou)起義。二(er)十五年(nian) (1899年(nian)),上(shang)諭令(ling)譚鐘麟赴北京覲見,次年(nian)李鴻章實(shi)授兩廣總督。三十一年(nian)(1905年(nian)),譚鐘麟逝世,終年(nian)83歲,謚文勤(qin)。