18. The East India Company built substantial infrastructure in London
At its inception, the East India Company’s headquarters was in leased quarters in Bishopsgate. In 1638 it moved into a Leadenhall street mansion known as Craven House. In the early 18th century the house was entirely rebuilt and was known as East India House. It was from this location that the Indian subcontinent was officially governed by the company for over a century. Other locations which were the site of EIC activities included the East India Dock Company, which constructed the East India Docks for the purpose of supporting the ships of the Indian trade. There was an import dock and an export dock.
The EIC established the East India College in 1806 as an institution to train its future employees. It was the civilian counterpart of the Military Seminary, and its training included languages, history, philosophy, law, and other subjects deemed necessary by the company to prepare men to administer its territories. Most of the students selected to attend were there as a result of patronage (as were most of the jobs with the EIC). The practice allowed the EIC to ingratiate itself with members of Parliament and of the English nobility, often allowing them to dispose of evidence of indiscretions by having them educated and sent to India or other far-off lands.