Clive

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

ROBERT, Lord Clive and Baron of Plassey, an English general and statesman; born in Shropshire, Sept. 29, 1725. In his 19th year he entered the East India Company's service at Madras as a writer, but in 1747 quitted the civil for the military service. under Dupleix had recently portant privileges and large lar territory, and in alliance with Chunda and land. Sahib, Nabob of Arcot, were threatening the existence of the British establish ments. In 1751 Clive, who had already a reputation for skill and courage, marched on the large city of Arcot with 200 British troops and 300 Sepoys, and took it, though strongly garrisoned, with- ROBERT CLIVE out a blow; withstood a siege by Chunda Sahib for nearly two months; and at last routed the enemy, took possession of important posts, and returned to Madras completely victorious. In 1753 he sailed to England to recover his health, and was received with much honor. Two years later he was back in India, in his governorship of St. David's, from which he was soon summoned to command the expedition sent to Bengal, where the Nabob Suraj-ud-Dowlah had attacked the British, destroyed their factories, taken Calcutta, and suffocated over 120 of his prisoners in the Black Hole. Clive soon took possession of Calcutta and brought Suraj-ud-Dowlah to terms; but having no trust in the loyal intentions of the nabob he resolved to dethrone him. With the help of Meer Jaffier, one of the nabob's officers, he effected his purpose, and in the battle of Plassey completely overthrew Suraj-ud-Dowlah's forces. Meer Jaffier now became the new nabob, and Clive was made Governor of The French Calcutta. Here he was equally successgained im- ful against the encroachments of the grants of Dutch, defeating their forces both by sea visited England again, Clive now where his success was highly applauded without much inquiry as to the means; and in 1761 he was raised to the Irish peerage, with the title of Lord Clive, Baron of Plassey. In 1764 fresh troubles in India took him back, but now as President of Bengal, with command of the troops there. Before his arrival, however, Major Adams had already defeated the Nabob of Oude, and Lord Clive had only the arranging of the treaty by which the company obtained the disposal of all the revenues of Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa. In 1767 he finally returned to England. In 1773 a motion was made in the House of Commons, that "Lord Clive had abused the powers with which he was intrusted"; but it was rejected for a resolution that "Lord Clive had rendered great and meritorious services to his country." His health was by this time broken, and in one of his habitual fits of melancholy he put an end to his life, Nov. 22, 1774.