譚鐘(zhong)麟(1822-1905),湖南茶陵人(ren),清(qing)末政(zheng)(zheng)治(zhi)人(ren)物。是(shi)咸豐六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1856年(nian)(nian)(nian))進士,年(nian)(nian)(nian)輕時(shi)曾游歷(li)(li)陜(shan)西(xi),對(dui)陜(shan)西(xi)的(de)(de)風土人(ren)情有所了(le)(le)(le)解。同治(zhi)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1871年(nian)(nian)(nian)),由陜(shan)甘總督左宗(zong)棠奏準(zhun)調(diao)入陜(shan)西(xi),出(chu)任陜(shan)西(xi)布政(zheng)(zheng)使,不(bu)久便護理巡撫(fu)。來陜(shan)任職前(qian),陜(shan)西(xi)曾發生(sheng)回(hui)(hui)民(min)起義(yi)(yi),回(hui)(hui)漢矛盾尖(jian)銳,許(xu)多(duo)回(hui)(hui)民(min)難以為生(sheng)。他(ta)(ta)到任后,解除了(le)(le)(le)不(bu)許(xu)回(hui)(hui)民(min)出(chu)城的(de)(de)禁(jin)令(ling),并(bing)指(zhi)示各(ge)府縣(xian)秉公(gong)處理回(hui)(hui)漢訴訟,贏得陜(shan)西(xi)回(hui)(hui)民(min)贊譽。他(ta)(ta)重(zhong)視(shi)教育,對(dui)建(jian)于明萬歷(li)(li)二十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1592年(nian)(nian)(nian))、已(yi)有兩百(bai)余年(nian)(nian)(nian)歷(li)(li)史、當時(shi)卻(que)幾近關(guan)(guan)閉的(de)(de)關(guan)(guan)中(zhong)書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),下大(da)力氣進行(xing)整頓,參照朱子白鹿洞(dong)書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)規章和課(ke)程設(she)置,修訂了(le)(le)(le)關(guan)(guan)中(zhong)書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)課(ke)程,并(bing)提出(chu)重(zhong)躬行(xing)、講經義(yi)(yi)、稽(ji)史事、通(tong)時(shi)務(wu)、嚴(yan)(yan)課(ke)程五(wu)項辦(ban)學要(yao)求,使關(guan)(guan)中(zhong)書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)重(zhong)新振興。他(ta)(ta)還注重(zhong)實業(ye),督導興修水(shui)利(li),疏通(tong)白公(gong)渠;發放蠶(can)種(zhong)紙,鼓勵百(bai)姓種(zhong)桑(sang)養(yang)蠶(can),使陜(shan)西(xi)絲織(zhi)業(ye)大(da)興。光緒(xu)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)三月十(shi)五(wu)日(ri)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月20日(ri))實授陜(shan)西(xi)巡撫(fu),賞(shang)(shang)一品頂戴(dai)并(bing)賞(shang)(shang)頂戴(dai)花翎。三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1877年(nian)(nian)(nian))陜(shan)西(xi)大(da)旱。譚鐘(zhong)麟奏請緩征蒲城、綏德等49廳(ting)州(zhou)縣(xian)本年(nian)(nian)(nian)未(wei)征和舊欠錢糧(liang)(liang)(liang);急調(diao)各(ge)州(zhou)縣(xian)社倉庫糧(liang)(liang)(liang)賑(zhen)濟災(zai)(zai)民(min);本省(sheng)賑(zhen)糧(liang)(liang)(liang)不(bu)敷,他(ta)(ta)通(tong)過(guo)朝廷向閩、粵海(hai)關(guan)(guan)借銀,解決向外省(sheng)購糧(liang)(liang)(liang)、運糧(liang)(liang)(liang)所需經費。賑(zhen)災(zai)(zai)中(zhong),他(ta)(ta)嚴(yan)(yan)禁(jin)囤積居奇,嚴(yan)(yan)懲肥私官吏,使災(zai)(zai)年(nian)(nian)(nian)平(ping)穩渡過(guo)。
光緒五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1879年(nian)(nian)(nian))秋(qiu)調任浙江巡撫,加兵部尚(shang)書(shu)(shu)(shu)銜。他(ta)(ta)派人(ren)清查(cha)土地,核(he)實漕平(ping),更定厘(li)稅,治浚(jun)河道(dao),鼓勵(li)商運,修筑炮(pao)臺(tai),重建文瀾閣并珍藏乾隆帝賜(si)予的“四(si)庫全(quan)書(shu)(shu)(shu)”,名震一方。兩年(nian)(nian)(nian)后,調任陜(shan)甘(gan)(gan)總督(du)。為(wei)準(zhun)備新疆(jiang)建立(li)行(xing)省,他(ta)(ta)于八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1882年(nian)(nian)(nian))曾奏請(qing)在新疆(jiang)南路設置丞倅牧(mu)令道(dao)員;十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian))新疆(jiang)正(zheng)式(shi)建省后,他(ta)(ta)為(wei)改(gai)變每(mei)年(nian)(nian)(nian)向新疆(jiang)調運糧餉(xiang)征(zheng)用大批民車的做法,專(zhuan)設官車局(ju),減(jian)輕了百(bai)姓負(fu)擔。為(wei)解決鹽販哄抬鹽價問題,他(ta)(ta)制訂就(jiu)(jiu)場征(zheng)課法,使(shi)食鹽價格下降。還(huan)在蘭州創建求古書(shu)(shu)(shu)院,在甘(gan)(gan)州(今甘(gan)(gan)肅張掖)創建河西精舍,選(xuan)拔文人(ren)學者著書(shu)(shu)(shu)講學。十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1885年(nian)(nian)(nian))中法戰爭爆發(fa)。他(ta)(ta)上奏朝廷,請(qing)求率軍迎敵,未允。十(shi)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1888年(nian)(nian)(nian))黃河決口,主動籌(chou)集60萬兩白銀(yin)援助河南修堤、賑災。任陜(shan)甘(gan)(gan)總督(du)六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)半,陜(shan)甘(gan)(gan)文化(hua)和經濟均有發(fa)展,庫儲銀(yin)百(bai)余萬兩,各(ge)州縣積谷數(shu)百(bai)萬石,比他(ta)(ta)就(jiu)(jiu)任時增長十(shi)倍以上。同年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1888年(nian)(nian)(nian))以目(mu)疾(ji)開(kai)缺回籍養病。
十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1891年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))春(chun)奉旨入(ru)京,以尚(shang)(shang)書(shu)銜補吏部(bu)左侍(shi)郎,后歷任(ren)戶部(bu)左侍(shi)郎、工部(bu)尚(shang)(shang)書(shu)、閩浙總督、四川總督等(deng)職(zhi)。二(er)(er)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1894年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))加賞(shang)太子(zi)少保(bao)銜。二(er)(er)十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1895年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))春(chun)調任(ren)兩廣(guang)總督,殘酷鎮壓(ya)了孫中山(shan)領導的乙(yi)未廣(guang)州起義(yi)。二(er)(er)十(shi)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian) (1899年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),上(shang)諭(yu)令譚鐘麟赴北京覲見,次(ci)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)李鴻章實授兩廣(guang)總督。三十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1905年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),譚鐘麟逝世,終年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)83歲,謚文(wen)勤。