Badge of the East India Club, London

The East India, Devonshire, Sports and Public Schools' Club, usually known as the East India Club, is a gentlemen's club founded in 1849 and situated at 16 St. James's Square in London. Membership of the club is by selection and former pupils of British public schools (independent schools which are members of the Headmasters' Conference) are encouraged to become members. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A Gentlemens club is a members club, originally for male members of the English gentry. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... St Jamess Square in 1750, looking north St. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... A public school, in current English, Welsh and Northern Ireland usage, is a (usually) prestigious independent school, for children usually between the ages of 11 or 13 and 18, which charges fees and is not financed by the state. ... An independent school is a school which is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operation and is instead operated by tuition charges, gifts, and perhaps the investment yield of an endowment. ... The Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference (HMC) is an association of the head teachers of 242 leading British independent boys and mixed schools. ...

Founded in the middle of the 19th century, the club's original members were "the servants of the East India Company and Commissioned Officers of Her Majesty's Army and Navy". The Club still provides meeting and social facilities for business and leisure, but it had already lost its military flavour within the first two decades of its foundation, with the East India Company having wound up entirely by 1874. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was one of the first joint-stock companies. ... Year 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Since then, the club has amalgamated with the Devonshire, the Sports and the Public Schools Clubs, all of which ran into financial trouble in the 1970s and were forced to close. With the disappearance of the East India Company, the public school influence has recently become an important one and although the club occupies the original building of the East India Club and maintains its fixtures and fittings, its composition today is primarily as a continuation of the old Public Schools Club. The Devonshire Club was established in 1874. ...

Its facilities include two dining rooms, the 'American bar' which is availiable to gentlemen only on weekdays (but ladies can use it on weekends), the 'Ladies drawing room' which is open only to gentlemen accompanying ladies, a library, a gymnasium, snooker rooms and 67 bedrooms.

The cost of rooms vary from £58 per night for a room with no facilities to £360 for the 'St James's' suite. The East India Club is also a private venue and offers conference facilities. The club has a restaurant, smoking room for gentlemen only, drawing room for women visitors, and a library of antiquarian and contemporary books. Most public schools offer membership of the club at a reduced rate of £200 for seven years to their former pupils, under the "J7" scheme. Other people gain membership through being proposed and seconded by existing members. However, if you do not know of a menber, this requirement will be waived but the membership committee will interview you. A public school, in current English, Welsh and Northern Ireland usage, is a (usually) prestigious independent school, for children usually between the ages of 11 or 13 and 18, which charges fees and is not financed by the state. ...

The Clubhouse is situated in St James's Square, close to the West End. St Jamess Square in 1750, looking north St. ... The interior of Covent Garden Market in the West End The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the citys major tourist attractions, businesses, and administrative headquarters. ...

See also

• List of London's gentlemen's clubs

See Gentlemens club (traditional) for an explanation of this particular sort of club. ...

External links

• Official Webpage