·1903年北洋大學(xué)舊貌

興辦近代學(xué)堂，是洋務(wù)運(yùn)動(dòng)的重要內(nèi)容。清光緒十三年(1887),津海關(guān)稅務(wù)司德璀琳，利用外僑和中國官員的捐款，在大營門外梁家園設(shè)立了博文書院中西學(xué)堂。因?yàn)榈妈张c津海關(guān)道周馥意見不和，致使學(xué)堂得不到經(jīng)費(fèi)，不得不把新落成的校舍押給銀行。
光緒十八年(1892),洋務(wù)派人物盛宣懷就任津海關(guān)道后，認(rèn)為“自強(qiáng)之道，以作育人才為本。求才之道，尤宜以設(shè)學(xué)堂為先” 。于是就積極籌劃，擬將學(xué)堂繼續(xù)開辦。事情剛有端倪，又因中日甲午戰(zhàn)爭而擱淺。
中國在甲午戰(zhàn)爭中失敗后，主張學(xué)習(xí)西方的思潮愈高。光緒二十一年(1895),盛宣懷稟請直隸總督王文韶轉(zhuǎn)奏朝廷批準(zhǔn)，于同年八月十四日 (1895年10月2日),在博文書院址(今海河中學(xué)),建立了天津北洋西學(xué)學(xué)堂。學(xué)堂分設(shè)法律、土木工程、探礦、機(jī)械等科； 以及頭等學(xué)堂(本科) 、二等學(xué)堂(預(yù)科)。學(xué)制均為4年。學(xué)堂督辦為盛宣懷，頭等學(xué)堂總辦先后為伍廷芳、王修植； 二等學(xué)堂總辦為蔡紹基。聘請?jiān)谔旖蜃赞k中西學(xué)院的美國人丁家立任總教習(xí)。光緒二十二年(1896),該學(xué)堂改名天津大學(xué)堂。此學(xué)堂為中國培養(yǎng)高等工程技術(shù)人才第一所現(xiàn)代化的大學(xué)。
光緒二十六年(1900),八國聯(lián)軍入侵天津，該學(xué)堂被德軍占領(lǐng)，作為兵營。光緒二十九年(1903)三月二十三日，遷至西沽武庫新址；并改稱北洋大學(xué)堂。辛亥革命后，又先后改稱北洋大學(xué)校及國立北洋大學(xué)。
自1920年起，北洋大學(xué)調(diào)整了部分學(xué)科，成為工科大學(xué)，后來又改名為北洋工學(xué)院。1934年，該校機(jī)械系根據(jù)南京國民政府軍政部航空署的要求，制成了我國第一臺(tái)飛機(jī)發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)?？上?，不久七七事變爆發(fā)，使這項(xiàng)具有開創(chuàng)意義的成果，沒能得到應(yīng)用和推廣。
西沽一帶有深厚的文化積淀，又是天津的自然風(fēng)景區(qū)。北洋大學(xué)緊靠北運(yùn)河，西臨桃花堤。再加上校舍逐年添建，設(shè)備不斷充實(shí)，環(huán)境逐漸美化，是理想的學(xué)習(xí)場所。1935年，北洋大學(xué)征集到詞藻華麗的校歌，歌詞唱道： “花堤藹藹，北運(yùn)滔滔，巍巍學(xué)府北洋高。悠長稱歷史，建設(shè)為同胞。不從紙上逞空談，要實(shí)地把中華改造。窮學(xué)理，振科工，重試驗(yàn)，薄雕蟲。望前驅(qū)之英華卓犖，應(yīng)后起之努力追蹤！ 念過去之艱難締造，愿一心一德，共揚(yáng)校譽(yù)于無窮。”
1937年平津淪陷后，北洋工學(xué)院遷陜，與北平大學(xué)、北平師范大學(xué)和北平研究院，聯(lián)合組成西安臨時(shí)大學(xué)，不久又改名為國立西北聯(lián)合大學(xué)、西北工學(xué)院。1945年抗戰(zhàn)勝利后，國立北洋大學(xué)遷回天津復(fù)校。
解放后的50年代，經(jīng)過院系調(diào)整，成為天津大學(xué)。原北洋大學(xué)址，成立了河北工學(xué)院。
The establishment of modem schools was an importantaspect of the Westernization Movement in China.In 1887,Dertring,head of Taxation Department ofTianjin Customs,used the donations from overseasChinese and officials to build the East-West Study ofBowen College at Liangjia Garden of Dayingmenwai.However,he could not reach consensus with Zhou Fu,head of Tianjin Customs. The college could not getenough money and the newly built classrooms had to bemortaged to the bank.
In 1892(the 18th year of Emperor Guangxu),Sheng Xuanhuai,a representative of the WesternizationMovement,was the head of Tianjin Customs. Hebelieved that "China`s way to be stronger is based onits talents. To cultivate talents,schools must be set up."Unfortunately,his efforts were hindered by the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.
After the failure of the war,the zeal to studyfrom the West soared up. In 1895,Sheng Xuanhuai`sapplication by Wang Wenshao,Governor-Generalof Zhili,to the Qing Government was approved. OnOctober 2,the Tianjin Beiyang School was built at theformer site of the Bowen College (the present MiddleSchool of Haihe River). Its majors included law,civilengineering,mine prospect,machinery,etc. It had4-year bachelor courses and 4-year preparatory courses.The President of the college was Sheng Xuanhuai. WuTingfang and Wang Xiuzhi were deans of the BanchelorSchool. Cai Shaoji was dean of the Preparatory School.Ding Jiali,an American and the founder of East-WestStudy,was responsible for teaching affairs. In 1896,the Beiyang School was renamed as Tianjin University,which was the first modern university trainingtechnicians and engineers in China.
In 1900,the Allied Forces of the Eight Powersinvaded Tianjin. The Tianjin University was occupiedby the German army as a barrack. In March 23,1903,it was moved to Xigu Arsenal and changed name toBeiyang University. After the Revolution of 1911,it wasrenamed as Beiyang School and later National BeiyangUniversity.
In 1920,the Beiyang University adjusted some ofits majors and became a technological university. Itsname was changed to Beiyang Engineering College. In1934,the Department of Machinery made the first planeengine in China under the request of the Aviation Bureau,the Military Department of Kuomintang Government.The outbreak of the July 7 Incident in 1937 impeded thefurther development of the study on plane engine.
Being a sight spot in Tianjin,the area of Xiguwas also rich in culture. Beiyang University,whichneighbours the North Canal in its north and facestowards the Taohua (Peach Blossom) Bank in its west,was an ideal place to study with the improvement ofteaching buildings and facilities. In the year of 1935,Beiyang University nominated its school song. Thesong goes that "The flower bank is beautiful along theNorth Canal. Beiyang University ranked top among theschools. Those who focus on building China are ourcountry fellows. Theory on paper is useless. We mustbuild China strong through practice... Concentrate onexperiments and be little bookworm. We must learn fromthe backbones of the nation and catch up with them. Putall past troubles in mind. Let`s unite together and bringfame to our university."
In 1937,Beijing and Tianjin were occupied bythe Japanese enemies. Beiyang Engineering College,Peking University,Peking Normal University andPeking Academy were moved to Shanxi and joinedtogether as Xi`an Joint University,and then changednames to the National North-West University and theNorth-West Engineering College. In 1945,the NationalBeiyang University returned to Tianjin after the successof the Anti-Japanese War. In 1950s,it became TianjinUniversity with the adjustment of national universities.Hebei Engineering College was built on the former siteof Beiyang University.

·1903年建成的北洋大學(xué)教學(xué)大樓正門