光緒十一年 (1885)正月，李鴻章屬下的總統(tǒng)前敵各軍的提督周盛波、總統(tǒng)盛軍的湖南提督周盛傳等，稟請 “仿照西國武備書院，設(shè)立學(xué)堂” 。李鴻章批準(zhǔn)。并命津海關(guān)道周馥操辦天津武備學(xué)堂創(chuàng)立。由李鴻章下令，直隸提督李長樂、廣東水師提督曹克忠等，從各自的營伍中，挑選弁兵送到天津武備學(xué)堂，經(jīng)海關(guān)道周馥考試，錄取100余名入學(xué)堂肄業(yè)； 并擬訂考課獎賞章程，學(xué)習(xí)天文、輿地、格致、測繪、算化諸科。每隔三五日實(shí)習(xí)炮技、營壘諸法。學(xué)期初訂1年，后來延長為2年。經(jīng)費(fèi)由海防項(xiàng)內(nèi)開支。學(xué)堂開始無校舍，李鴻章與周馥等商議，暫時就在法租界水師公所安置學(xué)生。聘請德國軍官李寶、崔發(fā)祿、哲寧那、博郎閫士等為教師。后來在河?xùn)|唐家口柳墅行宮舊址，建了校舍。轉(zhuǎn)年九月，遷到唐家口校舍。
同年五月五日 (6月17日),武備學(xué)堂創(chuàng)辦5個月后，由周馥代李鴻章擬訂了《創(chuàng)設(shè)武備學(xué)堂折》,力陳學(xué)堂創(chuàng)辦經(jīng)過，開學(xué)、招生情況，學(xué)制、考試，課程、教師，經(jīng)費(fèi)、薪水，飯食、設(shè)備，以及辦學(xué)目的，是為了增強(qiáng)國防能力，培養(yǎng)軍事將才，以備御侮之用。
天津武備學(xué)堂開辦了15年，培養(yǎng)了大批軍事和工程技術(shù)人才。僅袁世凱小站新軍中，就有130多名武備學(xué)堂畢業(yè)生擔(dān)任各項(xiàng)重要職務(wù)。其中有后來的大總統(tǒng)馮國璋、曹錕，國務(wù)總理、執(zhí)政段祺瑞等。還有國務(wù)總理兼陸軍總長張紹曾、靳云鵬，以及不少督軍。天津武備學(xué)堂是中國最早的陸軍軍官學(xué)校，開了中國近代陸軍技術(shù)學(xué)校的先河。
光緒二十六年 (1900),八國聯(lián)軍入侵天津時，該校成為戰(zhàn)場。留守學(xué)堂的幾十名學(xué)生，堅(jiān)守樓舍，頑強(qiáng)抵抗，最后全部壯烈犧牲。

·武備學(xué)堂

In early 1885,Zhou Shengbo,Commander-in-Chief ofthe front line,and Zhou Shengchuan,Governor-Generalof Hunan,submitted an application to Li Hongzhangfor founding a military school in western style. Withapproval from Li Hongzhang,Zhou Fu,Head of TianjinCustoms,was responsible for founding the school.Under Li Hongzhang`s order,Li Changle,Commander-in-Chief of Zhili,and Cao Kezhong,Commander-in-Chief of Guangdong navy,selected soldiers to attendthe enrollment examinations chaired by Zhou Fu atTianjin Military School and about 100 students passedthe examinations. Zhou Fu drew out school rules anddesigned the syllabus including courses of chromate,geography,science,mapping,mathematics,etc. Inevery three to five days,the students learned the skillsof cannon firing and camping. The length of schoolingwas one year and was extended to 2 years later. Thefunds were allotted from the sea defense budget. In thebeginning,there were no schoolhouses. Li Hongzhangand Zhou Fu decided to locate the students at theNavy Office in the French Concession. Teachers wereGerman officers. Later,the schoolhouses were built atthe old site of Liushu Palace at Tangjiakou of HedongDistrict. In September 1886,the school was relocated toTangjiakou.
On June 17,five months after the operation ofTianjin Military School,Zhou Fu wrote a report of"TheAnalysis of Founding Tianjin Military School" for LiHongzhang,which described the school`s founding,opening,enrollment,education system,examinations,courses,faculty,cost,salary,dining and facilities.Italso elaborated the aim of founding the school was tostrengthen national defense and to cultivate militarytalents.
Tianjin Military School cultivated many militaryand technical talents during its 15 years` operation. Onlyin Yuan Shikai`s new army,there were more than 130graduates from the school,including President FengGuozhang,President Cao Kun,Prime Minister DuanQirui,Prime Minister Zhang Shaozeng,and Minister ofthe Army Jin Yunpeng and many commander-in-chiefs.Tianjin Military School was the first military academy inChina. It was at the cutting-edge of military techniquesin modern China.
In 1900,the Allied Forces of Eight-Power invadedTianjin and the school became one of the battle fields.Dozens of students stayed to fight hard for the schooluntil death.

·周馥晚年在天津