The trust was established in 1841 by the will of British Indologist, John Borthwick Gilchrist, but could not begin work until 1865 due to litigation culminating in an 1858 hearing before the House of Lords.
Gilchrist's will directed that the trust be used 'for the benefit advancement and propagation of education and learning in every part of the world as far as circumstances will permit.'
Early efforts included scholarships to bring Indian students to England for a university education.
The Gilchrist Lectures were mainly on scientific topics and aimed at working class adults in industrial areas of Great Britain.
[1] At present the trust provides four types of educational grants: