Henry Cole

In fact the Imperial College Mathematics Department was formerly based in the Henry Cole Wing on Exhibition Road before the premises were donated to the Victoria & Albert Museum. Cole oversaw its move to its current site and became first director of what was initially called South Kensington Museum from 1857 to 1873. Land was purchased in the South Kensington area and developed as the centre for a number of educational and cultural institutions known half-jokingly as "Albertopolis".

Sir Henry Cole (15 July 1808 – 18 April 1882) was an English civil servant and inventor who facilitated many innovations in commerce and education in 19th century Britain.