Robert Clive
1725–1774
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Clive's life prior to his assignment at an East-India company trading post at Madras, in 1744, showed no signs of greatness, but a considerable degree of recklessness. He was unhappy in his remote, dull, assignment, and would likely have left it, had not the ongoing War of Austrian Succession caused the French and English trading posts in the region to go on a war footing. In the following years, as his fort was first besieged by the French, and later, involved in the siege of the French fort, he was given the charge of a soldier, although without an official commission. His greatest personal quality was that of extreme bravery and level-headedness in the face of overwhelming danger, and these initial altercations, although militarily insignificant, gave him a reputation as a capable leader. The treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle at the close of hostilities forced him to return to his civilian job, but only briefly. Although officially there was peace between England and France, the political situation in India was extremely fluid; the Moghul empire had recently broken up and dozens of native princes were vying for power. France, under the brilliant governor Dupleix, was poised to take advantage of the situation by making important alliances, and offering military assistance to some of the princes in return for trading influence. The rival princes, in turn, sought alliances with other European powers, notably Britain's East India Company (which had a small army at its disposal), so that they would be able to compete on equal terms with their enemies. In this way France and England were drawn back into an unofficial war footing.
Clive's great opportunity came in 1751 when the French-backed Chandra Sahib, left his capital of Arcot, in order to effect a siege of his rival, Muhammed Ali's, capital of Trichnopoli. Muhammed, of course, request British aid, but the resources available at Madras were not nearly equal to the task. Clive suggested the rather outlandish idea of attacking Arcot, with a small band of Englishmen. Although the probability of success was remote, he was allowed to proceed on the expedition, and succeeded beyond any expectation. His daring and resolve in the face of over-whelming opposition earned him a great reputation, not only among English officers, but also among the natives, who believed he possessed a sort of supernatural charm. England eventually provided more officers and gave Clive, (who had thus far been acting unofficially), a commission in the army, and the conflict between England and France, and their Indian allies escalated. With Clive, now supported by a "real" army, the conflict went largely in England's favor and the 'Second Carnatic War' was finally concluded in 1754 on terms favorable to Britain.
Between 1753 and the outbreak of the Seven Year's war in 1756, Clive returned to England. He was recalled to the governorship of Ft. David however, soon after the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud Doulah, besieged Calcutta, and reputedly imprisoned nearly 200 British citizens in a single room, where most died of suffocation, (the famed "Black Hole of Calcutta".) Clive first retook the city of Calcutta, and shortly afterward, in league with Mir Jafar, conspired to attack the Nawab's army. Instead of waiting for reinforcements, he took the first opportunity to attack and although greatly outnumbered won a resounding victory at Plassey. At this point the enormous treasury of Bengal fell into British hands and resulted in widespread corruption, both among company officers and local natives. Clive administered the region for three years and made a great personal fortune before returning to England. Once his strong hand was absent, the problems of widespread corrupting and money-grasping, became even worse, and he was recalled in 1765 to attempt to reform the situation. Reforming a system awash with ill-got gains however, is a far more daunting task than mere military heroics, and Clive was only partially successful. Severe corruption continued in the region for several more decades. In 1767 Clive returned to England for the last time, and seven years later, ended his own life as a result of a serious illness, and an addiction to pain medications.
Key events during the life of Robert Clive:
| Birth of Clive | |
| Clive stationed at Madras as a clerk of the East India Company | |
| Madras attacked by the French; Clive helps in defence, but is ultimately captured. | |
| British invest the French fort at Pondicherry. | |
| Treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle ends the War of Austrian Succession. | |
| Chundra's capital of Arcot is captured and held by Clive and a small band. | |
| Clive victorious at Battles of Coverypank, Covelon, and Chingleput. | |
| Clive marries and returns to England with great honor. | |
| Clive is offered governorship of Fort St David. Outbreak of 'Seven Years War' in Europe. | |
| Calcutta falls to Siraj ud Daulah. British citizens killed in the "Black Hole of Calcutta." | |
| A small army, under Clive, reclaims the British post at Calcutta. | |
| Clive routs the Siraj's army at the Battle of Plassey; Nawabship of Bengal passes to a British ally. | |
| As Governor of Bengal, Clive implements many reforms and reorganizes the sepoy army along European lines. | |
| Clive returns to England, having made many friends, and many enemies. | |
| Government of Bengal is administered very poorly in Clive's absence. | |
| Clive makes a third journey to India to attempt reforms, and reduce widespread corruption. | |
| Death of Clive, by his own hand. |
Other Resources
| How India was Won in | Cambridge Historical Reader—Primary by Cambridge Press |
| Plassey in | Stories from English History, Part Third by Alfred J. Church |
| Winning the British Empire in | The Story of England by Samuel B. Harding |
| How Clive Saved the English in | India: Peeps at History by Beatrice Home |
| Siege of Arcot in | Our Empire Story by H. E. Marshall |
| The Story of the Black Hole of Calcutta in | Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall |
| Dupleix Plays at King-making in | India by Victor Surridge |
| Coming of Clive in | India by Victor Surridge |
| Robert Clive in | Great Englishmen by M. B. Synge |
| Robert Clive in | The Struggle for Sea Power by M. B. Synge |
| Plassey in | The Boy's Book of Battles by Eric Wood |
| Book Links |
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Image Links | ||
|---|---|---|
 Lord Clive in Cambridge Historical Reader—Primary |
 Clive Examining the Enemy's Lines in Stories from English History, Part Third |
 To fight or not to fight: Clive's solitary reflections before the Battle of Plassey in India: Peeps at History |
Robert, Lord Clive in Back Matter |
 There he sat, perfectly happy and fearless in The Story of Lord Clive |
 To Clive was given the command of the storming party in The Story of Lord Clive |
 Attacking the French guns at Kaveripak in The Story of Lord Clive |
 An Irish deserter fired at Clive's head in The Story of Lord Clive |
 Clive on the roof, watching the battle of Plassey in The Story of Lord Clive |
 One of the worst things Clive had to handle was a mutiny amongst the officers in The Story of Lord Clive |
 Clive fired one of the guns himself. in Our Empire Story |
Clive himself sprang to a gun in India |
 Clive at Plassey in Great Englishmen |
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| Mir Jafar | Succeed to the position of Nawab of Bengal after Clive won the Battle of Plassey. |
| Dupleix | Governor of the French trading company in India; rival of Clive for control of Bengal; |
| Sir Eyre Coote | After Clive, greatest of British generals during early years of British Rule in India. |
| Mir Cossim | Son-in-law of Mir Jafar, who was raised to the Nawabship by the British, but rebelled against them. |
| Chandra Sahib | A prince in the Carnatic region who was supported by the French. |
| Major Lawrence | Clive's commanding officer in the early years of the Carnatic Wars. |