Zhao Tianlin, also known as Zhao Junda, was born on July 16th, 1886 in Tianjin. He was admitted in the Department of Laws of Peiyang University in 1904, and selected to study laws in the United Sates among the first group of Peiyang graduates to study abroad in 1906. He graduated from Harvard University with Doctoral Degree in Laws and was awarded a Harvard Golden Key. Since 1912, he taught Laws and Chrematistics in Peiyang University. On March 13th, 1914, he was appointed as President of National Priyang University and served six years until January 1920.
During his presidency, he summarized the school motto of “Seeking Truth from Facts” from the 20 odd running experiences of Peiyang University, which has been inherited to today. He picked the outstanding teachers, gave great priority to the cultivation of students’ basic and practical abilities, established a group of laboratories and Specimen Exhibition Rooms, providing the most comprehensive equipments in our country, constantly enriched the collection of books in the library to make it a voluminous one, upgraded the facilities and adjusted the layout of building, replenished the sports facilities while advocating physical exercise and implemented the “System of Borrowing Books”, cultivating a number of high potential talents that excellent in character and learning.
The Peiyang Students achieved the highest literary degrees in succession in three National important examinations for selecting the diplomatist, senior civil officer and Tsinghua students studying abroad in 1918.