[5][better source needed] The university is opening a third campus in Sitapur district where vocational and skill development courses will be offered.

In his posthumous memory, a group of his loyal talukdars in Awadh decided to donate eight annas (half a rupee) from their annual income to start an educational institution.

Just two years later, in 1864, Canning High School[10] was established, starting with 200 students in two rooms of a mansion in the narrow lanes of Khayaliganj, Aminabad.

Canning College,[11] founded in the late 19th century, played a crucial role in strengthening the relationship between the local aristocracy, known as talukdars, and the British administration in Oudh (now Uttar Pradesh).

Conceived as a memorial, it was envisioned as the first institution of its kind in the region, with a mission to educate the youth, enhance the nation's resources, and combat ignorance through knowledge.

The land for the college was part of the 700-hectare Awadh Estates granted to Raja Sir Randhir Singh of Kapurthala by the British after the 1857 rebellion.

During the first twelve years, the College shifted from its original abode, the Aminuddaulah Palace, to several places, including the Lal Baradari.

On 15 November of that year, Sir George Couper, Lieutenant-Governor of the North Western Provinces and Chief Commissioner of Oudh, formally opened the new building.

For well over three decades, Canning College remained in the Kaisar Bagh building, but the site was scarcely suitable for a large residential institution.

In 1905, the Government handed over to Canning College the extensive walled garden of about 90 acres located north of the river Gomti, known as Badshah Bagh.

After the pacification of Awadh, it became the Lucknow residence of the Maharaja of Kapurthala, who had purchased Badshah Bagh from the British government at an auction for a nominal price of Rs.

Some remains in the garden, such as the old royal building Lal Baradari, the tall and beautiful gates, and the canal, remind us of its historicity.

"The Temple of learning, the foundation of which we have laid, should draw teachers from all parts of the world inspired by the sacred mission of bringing wisdom where there is ignorance, light where there is darkness, and peace where there is strife.

— Gyanendra Nath Chakravarty, First Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University, during his speech on the passing of the Lucknow University Act in 1920, in the Legislative Council.The implementation of the new building scheme was made possible due to a special grant from the Government, proceeds from the sale of the old building at Kaiserbagh, and the munificence of Maharaja Sir Bhagwati Singh of Balrampur.

[17] The construction plans were entrusted to the well-known architect Sir Swinton Jacob, who prepared an impressive design in the Indo-Saracenic style.

de la Fosse, the then Director of Public Instruction, United Provinces, drew up a Draft Bill for the establishment of the Lucknow University which was introduced in the Legislative Council on 12 August 1920.

During the first twelve years, the college was shifted from its original location, the Aminuddaulah Palace, to a number of places, one after another, including the Lal Baradari.

The foundation stone of this new building was laid by the Viceroy, Sir John Lawrence, as far back as 13 November 1867, but the work of construction was not completed until 1878.