EJ Building

Did you ever imagine a British diplomat turned industrialist shaping the very landscape of Bucharest? Right here, before the EJ Building, stands a testament to the vision of Effingham Grant. The EJ Building, part of the University of Bucharest, sits on land once owned by this remarkable figure. Effingham Grant, born in Guernsey in 1820, began his career as a British diplomat in Wallachia. He married Zoe Racoviță, inheriting the Belvedere Palace and estate. This area, now known as the Grant Quarter, became a hub of industry thanks to Grant’s entrepreneurial spirit. He established Bucharest’s first foundry, the Foundry E. Grant & Co. Belvedere. He also founded Romania’s first tobacco processing workshop, the Manufactura de Tutun de la Belvedere, which later gave rise to the Regie neighborhood. Grant’s impact extended beyond industry. He even published a political newspaper, Concordia, supporting the National Liberal Party. While the original Belvedere Palace and foundry are gone, the EJ Building stands as a reminder of Grant’s legacy. His son, Robert Effingham Grant, a civil engineer, further solidified the family name by contributing to the construction of Podul Grant, a bridge named in Effingham’s honor. The EJ Building, a modern structure, contrasts sharply with the industrial past of this area, yet it continues the spirit of innovation and progress championed by Effingham Grant.