王弘海(1541—1617),字(zi)紹(shao)傳,號忠銘。海南(nan)定安人。明嘉(jia)靖四(si)十(shi)年(nian)(1561年(nian))鄉試第一名(解元)。四(si)十(shi)四(si)年(nian)中進士,選入翰(han)林(lin)(lin)院任(ren)庶吉(ji)士。時海瑞系獄,身體(ti)孱弱,他不畏獄吏恫嚇,早晚探(tan)望,盡力(li)幫助調理,關懷備至。不久,升翰(han)林(lin)(lin)院編修(xiu),任(ren)會試同(tong)考(kao)官(guan),秉公取士。是時張居正當權,作《火樹(shu)篇》、《春雪歌》以諷刺。
萬(wan)歷(li)朝(1573~1620年(nian))以前,海(hai)(hai)南未設科舉(ju)考(kao)場,瓊(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)州學(xue)(xue)子(zi)須(xu)北渡(du)瓊(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)州海(hai)(hai)峽(xia)到(dao)雷州考(kao)試(shi),常因船小風浪大(da)(da)而發(fa)生傷亡事(shi)故,甚至全(quan)舟覆沒。如嘉靖三十(shi)(shi)六年(nian)(1557年(nian)),曾發(fa)生數(shu)百人葬身(shen)大(da)(da)海(hai)(hai)的慘劇。加(jia)(jia)上(shang)海(hai)(hai)盜出沒,學(xue)(xue)子(zi)半(ban)渡(du)時常被(bei)擄,貧者殞命無還,富者傾家(jia)贖(shu)人。萬(wan)歷(li)四年(nian)(1576年(nian)),王(wang)弘(hong)誨向朝廷上(shang)《請(qing)改海(hai)(hai)南兵(bing)備兼(jian)提(ti)學(xue)(xue)疏》,請(qing)求授權廣東省駐海(hai)(hai)南兵(bing)備副使兼(jian)管科考(kao)事(shi)宜(yi),允(yun)許在瓊(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)州單(dan)獨設立院試(shi)、鄉(xiang)試(shi)考(kao)場,得到(dao)萬(wan)歷(li)皇帝的準許,史稱“奏(zou)考(kao)回瓊(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)”。此后,凡由(you)提(ti)學(xue)(xue)主管的考(kao)試(shi)只在瓊(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)州舉(ju)行(指“歲(sui)考(kao)”和(he)“科考(kao)”,鄉(xiang)試(shi)和(he)會試(shi)仍(reng)須(xu)北渡(du)赴試(shi)),極大(da)(da)地方便(bian)了瓊(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)州學(xue)(xue)子(zi),促進瓊(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)州教(jiao)育(yu)事(shi)業的發(fa)展。后升(sheng)任南京(jing)(jing)國子(zi)監祭(ji)酒、南京(jing)(jing)吏(li)部右侍(shi)(shi)郎、北京(jing)(jing)禮部右侍(shi)(shi)郎兼(jian)翰(han)林院侍(shi)(shi)讀學(xue)(xue)士(shi)、經筵講官加(jia)(jia)太子(zi)賓客(ke)、吏(li)部左侍(shi)(shi)郎、掌詹事(shi)府、教(jiao)習庶吉士(shi)、會試(shi)副總裁、南京(jing)(jing)禮部尚書。二十(shi)(shi)七(qi)年(nian)(1599年(nian))請(qing)求致仕。隱居家(jia)鄉(xiang)后創建尚友書院,教(jiao)育(yu)后學(xue)(xue),還修橋(qiao)造井(jing),方便(bian)鄉(xiang)人。生前,瓊(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)(qiong)州學(xue)(xue)子(zi)已在定安(an)縣(xian)城建生祠祀(si)之;卒后,百姓為之罷市,朝廷追贈太子(zi)少保。
著作有《天池(chi)(chi)草(cao)》、《尚友(you)堂稿》、《吳(wu)越(yue)游記》、《來鶴軒集(ji)(ji)》、《南溟奇(qi)甸集(ji)(ji)》、《文字(zi)談苑》、《南禮奏牘》等。其中《天池(chi)(chi)草(cao)》(26卷)入選清代《四(si)庫全(quan)書》。